Last year, the government spent 125 billion euros on care and welfare, including childcare. That is 8.8 billion euros or 7.6 percent more than in 2020, according to figures from the statistics office CBS. Both in absolute numbers and in percentage terms, this is the same increase as a year earlier.
The increase is largely a result of the corona crisis. The costs for testing and vaccination for the full year amounted to 6.7 billion euros and the bonus for healthcare staff cost 700 million euros. Other aid measures cost a total of EUR 900 million. That is much less than the 3.5 billion euros in 2020.
The costs of care for corona patients, both direct and indirect, rose from 1.4 billion to 1.7 billion euros last year.
In total, the corona expenditure amounted to about 10 billion euros. That is 8% of total health care expenditure.
The government spent 466 euros more per person on care. She also spent about 56 euros more on health insurance and 11 euros on the Long-term Care Act (Wlz).
This sharp increase in the Wlz is due to the fact that, since last year, people with intensive mental care needs have also come under this law. That was previously paid through another budget.
