Non-expenditure healthcare data provide information on institutions providing healthcare in countries, on resources used and on output produced in the framework of healthcare provision.

Data on healthcare form a major element of public health information as they describe the capacities available for different types of healthcare provision as well as potential 'bottlenecks' observed. The quantity and quality of healthcare services provided and the work sharing established between the different institutions are a subject of ongoing debate in all countries. Sustainability - continuously providing the necessary monetary and personal resources needed - and meeting the challenges of ageing societies are the primary perspectives used when analysing and using the data.

The resource-related data refer to both human and technical resources, i.e. they relate to:

The output-related data ( 'activities' ) refer to contacts between patients and the healthcare system, and to the treatment thereby received. Data are available for hospital discharges of in-patients and day cases, average length of stay of in-patients, consultations with medical professionals, and medical procedures performed in hospitals.

Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers, percentages, and in population-standardised rates (per 100 000 inhabitants).

Wherever applicable, the definitions and classifications of the System of Health Accounts (SHA) are followed, e.g.