Patients still tend to visit a hospital specialist directly even in cases where cheaper and clinically effective alternatives are available. In 2009, curative and rehabilitative care provided to inpatients and outpatients accounted for around half of current health spending in Hungary, with a slightly higher share of spending on inpatients (Table 4.2). While the share of inpatient care has dropped slightly and that of outpatient care increased since the 1990s, there was no clear systematic approach and trend (Gaal et al.,