Citizens pay for a third of the total amount spent annually on healthcare from their own pockets, according to a new report.

“Out-of-pocket payment accounts for most private healthcare expenditures and comprises a comparatively high percentage of total spending in comparison to other European countries,” the Health Systems in Transitions report said. The report was drawn up by the European Observatory on Health System.

It said people tended to use the private sector to receive more personal attention, to have better continuity of care by seeing the same provider, to set appointments at convenient times and to avoid waiting lists for surgery in the public sector.

General government expenditure comprised almost 64 per cent of the total health bill in 2011 as against 34 per cent in out-of-pocket payments and two per cent from voluntary health insurance.