In 2006, an average of €2,870 per inhabitant was spent in Germany on maintaining the population's health and alleviating the consequences of disease. The amount spent nationwide totalled €236 billion. Another cost aspect to be taken into consideration is the loss to the labour market caused by inability to work, disability and mortality; this came to 4 million work years. Diseases of the circulatory system were the biggest cost factor (€35.2 billion). The second most costly category (€32.7 billion) was diseases of the digestive system. The chapter with the third highest costs was mental illness and behavioural disorders at €26.7 billion. ... [more details]