One of lowest health spends in western Europe but healthy diet sees Irish live longer

The Irish appear to have discovered an unusual secret to living longer according to a comprehensive study of European countries health systems.

The ‘Health at a Glance’ report produced by the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows over the past two decades Irish people have increased their life-span by more than any other EU nationality, living almost five years longer than the previous generation.

This despite the fact that the Government spends less of its budget on health services than almost all other western European countries.