In 2003 the Palestinian Authority’s total per capita expenditure on health care was 2.4 % of GDP.⁴⁷ Among the six MECC countries of Middle East, there is a spending range of Intl $1839 in Israel (8.7 % of GDP) and Intl $153 in Egypt (3.9 % of GDP). At 3.9 % the smallest spending as a percentage of GDP is in Egypt (Tables 8 and 9).

Tables 8 and 9 Total health expenditure (Intl $) per capita and as a percentage of GDP: Six MECC countries of the Middle East, 2003

The WHO overall health system performance score does not place the Palestinian Authority in the score for 191 countries. This composite measure of overall health system attainment is based on a country’s goals relating to health, responsiveness, and fairness in financing.⁴⁸ The measure varies widely across countries and is highly correlated with general levels of human development as captured in the human development index .

The Palestinian Authority provides a health insurance scheme for government employees and it funds government hospitals. In 2003, an estimated 28.2% of the population were enrolled in health insurance plans.⁴⁹ The majority of the population, however, relies heavily on charitable, United Nations and other foreign aid programmes, such as United Nations Refugee and Works Administration (UNRWA), and the Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC), amongst others, to support access to health care, and provide services. Access to medical care is severely hindered by the difficulties of travelling within the territories and getting through checkpoints. Hence, small clinics have been built, which can provide some basic health care in areas without easy access to the major hospitals. Volunteers are also trained to provide some basic healthcare support in refugee camps and isolated communities.⁵⁰ There are 619 primary health care centres, around 63% of which are government funded.⁵¹