The price differential between the United Sates and Canada is far greater for hospital and physician services than for prescription drugs.

The most recent report from the annual health data survey of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reveals that spending on hospital and physician services accounts for nearly 55 percent of the $2,726 difference in per capita spending between Canada and the United States.

Prescription drugs account for $216 or 8 percent of the difference in per capita spending between the two countries. Health administration and insurance accounts for $273 or 10 percent of the difference in per capita spending between Canada and the United States.

Inpatient services include hospital and nursing home care. Health administration and insurance includes the activities of private insurers and central and local authorities. Included are the planning, management, regulation and collection of funds and handling of claims for the delivery system. The OECD annually collects and publishes health data for its 29 member countries. Primary OECD sources for Canadian and American health expenditure information are the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, respectively.