Canadian hospital stay costs $7,000

A report reveals an average hospital stay in Canada costs almost $7,000.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information said the figure does not include the cost of emergency care, day surgery, long-term care, hospital clinics or fee-for-service payments to physicians.

"Hospitals account for the greatest share of health spending in Canada, so it is important to understand how the money is spent," institute Vice President of Programs Jean-Marie Berthelot said in a statement. "Better knowledge of the cost of medical conditions is useful for the planning of health services to meet the needs of the population."

Circulatory disease and injury from external causes pushed hospital costs higher. The next five most expensive medical conditions to treat in hospital include diseases of the respiratory system, cancers and diseases of the digestive system. The five conditions accounted for 58 percent of the cost of inpatient hospital stays, the report said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

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