BETWEEN 2000 and 2008 health spending per person increased by 4.2% a year on average, according to the latest data from the OECD, a rich countries' club. Average spending over the same period was 8.4% of GDP; last decade the average was 7.3%. Technological change, population expectations and ageing populations, say the OECD, will continue to drive costs and spending even higher. In almost all countries, public expenditure accounts for the majority of health-care spending. It has increased from an average of 12% of total government spending in 1990 to a record 16% in 2008. Given the need to reduce budget deficits, governments will be looking to reduce health-care expenditure or increases taxes.