Britain is turning into a "medical state": half of the budget will go to healthcare

The UK is turning into a "medical state", with almost half of daily spending on public services going to health and social care, according to a report by the Resolution Foundation think tank.

According to forecasts, in the 2028–2029 budget year, 49% of the government's current expenditures (excluding investments) will go to these areas. For comparison, in 2009–2010 this figure was 36%.

This increase in costs "eats up" the resources of other services, such as the police, judges, and local authorities.

Real per capita healthcare spending is estimated to increase by 36% over two decades, and by:

• justice – will fall by 16%;
• social benefits will fall by 31%;
• housing policy and communities – will fall by 50%.

Analysts note that financing this level of spending already requires a significant tax increase.

In particular, last year's British budget announced £39.7 billion in additional taxes and a £3.6 billion reduction in benefits.

Ruth Curtis, head of the Resolution Foundation, stressed that Britain has entered a long-term trend in which the state system is increasingly focusing on healthcare, even at the expense of other important areas.