The table shows the percentage of government expenditure on health care in five countries in 2006 as well as the proportions of 24-30-year-olds working in medical services. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The table displays the health care spending in 2006 of five European countries. It also presents the percentage of young people (aged 24-30) working in the medical field.
Overall, Italy’s government seemingly valued healthcare the most, as it had the highest budget allocation for health. However, despite not having the highest proportion of tax funds allocated for health, many of Poland’s young professionals (24-30 years old) worked in medical services.
In 2006, Italy registered the highest proportion of government spending on medical services at 27%, which was at least twice as high as the percentages of the others. Spain, Iceland, and Finland followed with 13%, 11%, and 9%, respectively. Poland’s government, however, allocated the smallest percentage of its budget to medical services for its citizens, using just 5% of its funds.
Despite not prioritizing health as much as other sectors in their society, the proportion of Poland’s young adults aged 24-30 years old working in the health sector was high, as 54% of them were involved somehow in medical services. Italy, which had the highest budget percentage for health spending, had the second highest proportion of young adults in the medical field in 2006 at 40%. The proportion of young health professionals in the remaining countries was not that far behind: Spain (34%), Iceland (29%), and Finland (25%).