Health Report.The World Health Organization saysthe rising cost of health careis a struggle for peopleand governments around the world.The problem is greatest in countrieswhere people must oftenpay directly for services.A new report says these costspush one hundred million peopleinto poverty each year.Aging populations are one reasonwhy health costs are rising.Also, more people are gettingchronic diseases like diabetesand heart disease that requirelong-term treatment.And new treatmentsfor health conditionsare more costly than old ones.This year's "World Health Report"offers guidelines to strengthenhealth financing systemsand make services availableto more people.The report says aboutone billion people do notget the care they needbecause it costs too muchor it is unavailable.WHO Director-GeneralMargaret Chan saysno one should have torisk financial ruin to take careof their health.David Evans agrees.He is the directorof health systems financingfor the WHO, which is partof the United Nations.DAVID EVANS: "But what the report says,it's not just not acceptable,but it's not necessary.Something could be doneand something can be done about it now."The report says one thinggovernments can do is providemore money for health care.For example, ten years ago,African leaders agreed to spendfifteen percent of governmentfunds on health.So far, only Liberia, Rwandaand Tanzania have met that goal.The report says governmentscould also raise money more fairlyand spend it more wisely.David Evans says several countriesare doing this.DAVID EVANS: "Gabon is a low-income country.It has introduced a taxon financial transactionsand that is going to help.If Gabon can do something like that,other countries can do it."In terms of financial risk protection,Thailand has introduced healthinsurance for everyone.And that health insuranceis tax-funded, particularlyfor the poor, so that what happensis the insurance now pays the costthat the people would have paidpreviously out of their own pockets."The WHO says smarter spendingcould reduce health care costsbetween twenty and forty percent.The report identifies ten areaswhere better policies and practicescould make health systems more efficient.One area is in the purchase of medicines.The report says higher-priced drugsare often chosen evenwhen lower-priced medicinesof the same quality are available.Also, medicines cango to waste simplybecause the right storageis not available.And that's the VOA Special EnglishHealth Report.