Between 1960 and 2008, the percentage of the total health bill spent on hospitals in most OECD countries increased initially as the acute care era became predominant and later decreased as the prevalence of chronic disease increased. For example, in Australia, the 40.4% of all health care spending was for hospital services in 1960, the percentage peaked at 52.7% in 1977, and by 2007 it had declined to 39.9%. France showed a similar pattern - 30.9% in 1960, a peak of 51.9% in 1980 and down to 35.0% in 2008.