Worldwide, health systems confront changes in demographic factors, changes in lifestyle factors and changes in morbidity and mortality. In addition, the healthcare sector also has to deal with an acceleration of technological developments and increasing scarcity on the labour market. All this results in raising costs that will increase uncontrollably to extreme amounts, if the necessary attention is not given. Aruba is no different from other countries and currently, in 2019, has to deal with a multitude of challenges in the healthcare sector. Creating a system in which the quality of care is optimal in terms of effectiveness, efficiency and patient/client orientation, and where there is accessible care and financial durability, is a continuous challenge.
The System of Health Accounts (SHA) is a system developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that provides insight into important data on how money flows in the healthcare system. Aruba has once again embraced this system in 2016, resulting in this report, the National Health Account (NHA) 2015.
This report is written by Mr. Chris Goedhart, policy officer of the Department of Public Health Aruba (DPH) and was not possible without the cooperation of various partners, including the General Health Insurance, the Central Bureau for Statistics, the Finance Department, the Instituto Medical San Nicolas and various non-governmental organizations including the Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital. Appreciation goes to all these organisations and people who have made their data available.
I hope you enjoy your reading.