What is the average difference in healthcare cost between the United
states and Europe in terms of GDP

Total healthcare costs. By nation.
For 2002 unless marked otherwise. Total includes 
both public and private healthcare costs. Costs are
as a percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

_9.1_Australia. 2001.
_7.7_Austria.
_9.1_Belgium.
_9.6_Canada.
_7.4_Czech Republic.
_8.8_Denmark.
_7.3_Finland.
_9.7_France.
10.9_Germany.
_9.5_Greece.
_7.8_Hungary.
_9.9_Iceland.
_7.3_Ireland.
_8.5_Italy.
_7.8_Japan. 2001.
_5.9_Korea. 2001.
_6.2_Luxembourg.
_6.1_Mexico.
_9.1_Netherlands.
_8.5_New Zealand.
_8.7_Norway.
_6.1_Poland.
_9.3_Portugal.
_5.7-Slovak Republic.
_7.6_Spain.
_9.2_Sweden.
11.2_Switzerland.
_6.6_Turkey. 2000.
_7.7_United Kingdom.
14.6_United States.

from, and many many other linked documents at,
http://corporatism.tripod.com/universal.htm

Health spending has been rising as a percentage of the US economy for
a generation now. Back in the 60's it was about 7% or so but it has
now soared, according to the Bush administration, to over 15% of the
nation's GDP. According to published figures, raw government spending
on healthcare accounts for 45% of all healthcare spending or about
6.75% of GDP. This is roughly comparable to spending on the National
Health Service in the UK during the last conservative government when
it was widely acknowledged that not enough was being spent to sustain
the NHS. However, the UK has significantly raised it's spending on
healthcare to nearly the EU agreed target of 8.5% of GDP
http://loadedmouth.com/node/561

Owain