In 2013, the GDP declined by almost one quarter compared to 2007 whilst in the same period, health care spending followed a parallel trajectory. It is noteworthy that in the years from 2005 to 2009, where GDP increased by 19.2%, the corresponding total health spending rose by 41% . The positive sign of the slope was reversed after the onset of the crisis. In the years between 2009–2012, the GDP declined by 16.4% which was accompanied by a 23.1% downturn in the total health care expenditure and 24.5% reduction in the public health spending (from 23.0 to 17.7 and from 16.1 to 12.0 billion € respectively) .