Healthcare Spending: Dominican Republic

Analysis# Dominican Republic Healthcare Spending In 2023, the Dominican Republic allocated 4.599% of its GDP to healthcare, down from an all-time peak of 5.088% in 2021. Since 2000, overall healthcare spending has declined 5.8%, though current levels remain above the historical low of 3.994% recorded in 2006. The country's spending trajectory reflects considerable volatility over the past two decades, with no consistent upward or downward pattern. A sharp spending increase occurred between 2020 and 2021, climbing from 4.965% to 5.088%, likely driven by pandemic-related pressures. Following this spike, spending contracted significantly through 2023, falling to 4.599%. The recent three-year trend suggests stabilization around 4.6% of GDP, though the drop from the 2021 peak indicates healthcare as a budget priority may be shifting relative to other national spending categories.