ABSTRACT
While the health care delivery system in the United States is characterized by its base in the free market, health care systems in European countries are often operated by the central government and have the objective of providing coverage to the entire population. Like other European countries, Italy has a national health care system that is responsible for the delivery of health care to its population. Generally, Italy has health care expenditures that are comparable to those of other European countries. For example, in 1996, 7.8% of Italy's GDP was spent on health expenditures. This is comparable to the United Kingdom at 6.9%, Germany at 10.5%, and France at 9.8%. The Figure was much higher in the United States, which spent 13.6% of its GDP on health care (GECD, 1998).
