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20-Apr-2018
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Arch Hellen Med, 35(Supplement 1), 2018, 9-16 REVIEW The impact of crisis on health and health care: thoughts and data on the greek case K. Souliotis,1 J. Papadonikolaki,1 M. Papageorgiou,1 M. Economou2 |
The large recessions that the European Economies have faced since 2007, have directly affected the major economic centers. The national public debts and unemployment rates rose, while government revenues and average family income fell. In the framework of a wider European agreement on the need to reduce public deficits, a set of policies was undertaken mainly characterized by austerity measures and involved public spending cuts. Published data and literature review have identified that health and access to healthcare services are directly affected by the financial crisis, as increase in unemployment rates and reduction in social protection spending are historically linked to worsening health outcomes and creating barriers in access to healthcare services. The impact of austerity policies in Greece has highlighted the need to redefine the national health policy, putting at its center the protection of vulnerable social groups and also the configuration of a sustainable and effective national health system, by restructuring the primary healthcare and social policy.
Key words: Αccess to health care, Economic crisis, Greece, Health, Recession.
