Addiction: spending will at least double by 2050 in OECD

Written by Sandeep Nehra

Public expenditure on care dependency is expected to double or even triple by 2050 in countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), says a report released on Wednesday the organization.

In total, in 2008, public spending has averaged 1.2% of GDP in OECD countries and private spending 0.3%.

Public expenditure ranged from 0.1% of GDP in Portugal to 3.6% in Sweden, France is quite close to average at 1.7%, according to the OECD.

In its report, Amnesty International believes they “should at least double or even triple by 2050,” the population aged 80 and older from 4% to almost 10% over the same period. This population will reach even 17% in Japan and 15% in Germany in 2050, said the agency.

According to the OECD, “Ageing and social change will complicate the care of older people” and “the first challenge for the future” will be dependent on funding.

But the method of support for dependents also raises questions. Currently, in countries of the OECD (rich), between half and 75% of treatment services for the dependent are provided at home, a less costly than institutional care.

In addition, “more than one adult over 50 years helping a person in ten functionally disabled,” almost two-thirds are women.

But, says the report, people who help a carer are at risk of mental health problems increased by 20% and “it is not too desirable to seek the caregivers.”

The OECD considers that “many countries need to strengthen their formal sector” in support of addiction. It now employs between 1% and 2% of the workforce (nurses, carers, etc.).. The organization believes that “many countries this proportion will more than double by 2050″.

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