In this moment of financial crisis of the State, it is important to adequately use the economic resources available. The objective of this survey is to study the factors that determine the increase in health expenditures. It is a critical review of the subject, conducting a systematic survey of publications for the past ten years, and considering the main scholars in health economics in Brazil and other countries. The health service demand factors have varied features, and may be overlapping, thus increasing even more the demand: the perceived need, social security, demography, epidemiology, the use of services, regulation, psychosocial and cultural factors. The health service supply factors are technical-medical progress, promotion of innovations and multiplication of health care centers. Demand factors cannot be quickly curbed, whereas the supply factors are more easily controlled. However, there are only a few examples in the literature on sucess of control measures.
financial crisis; health services; health expenditures; demand; supply