Deep inequalities and poorer health services for the Greeks

The research was presented by Ms. Tina Tripsa, head of IPSOS in Greece, at the conference of the Financial Times, which was held today in collaboration with the Greek Society of Health Services Administration and Boussias Communications. The main theme of the conference was the economic crisis and its impact on world health.

The main conclusion of the research is the existence of deep inequalities between Greek citizens concerning their access to health services and increasing private expenditure of patients.

The survey was conducted in March in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities of Greece, with telephone and face -to-face interviews. They took part 624 Greek citizens aged 25-70 years who have used health services in the last 6 months, either for themselves or for their children. 60 % were routine patients and 40% chronically ill patients. Also, were involved 308 doctors of certain specializations, from the NHS, EOPYY and the private sector.

According to this research, the chronically ill seem to suffer the biggest blow. Most patients who have lost their insurance entitlement while on long term treatment, in a percentage of 71% cannot continue their treatment without having to pay for it themselves entirely, according to the estimates of physicians.

For 29% of this category of patients, doctors believe they can continue their treatment, but only if they turn to social policies and services, such as social medical practice.
However, for the 44%, of the chronically ill who have lost their insurance entitlement, doctors do estimate that already have their treatment interrupted.

To the question "The recent developments in the field of public health has affect or has not affect the ability to follow your normal treatment and if so, how?" 4 in 10 patients with chronic and rare diseases responded "yes."

40% continued treatment, but pays out of his own pocket for visits to the doctor.
26% missed some doses.
25% had to pay out of his own pocket for medicines and tests.
24% stopped the accompanying drugs.
20% discontinued therapy for a while.

Result of this is that in 33% of patients there is progression of the disease, 11% relapse and 14% show symptoms due to the discontinuation of the accompanying drugs.

Compared with the period before the crisis, 56% say that today as a family pays more for health services. In order to cope with this increase in private expenditure, 1 in 3 families make cuts to their diet.

The last 6 months, the vast majority of Greeks have paid out of their own pocket for drugs or doctor visit.

Doctors and patients found that the quality of public health services today is worse than the pre-crisis period, and that the recent measures of A. Georgiadis do not promote equal and fair access to the public health system.

Specifically, 73% of citizens and 81% of doctors believe that the services today are worst. 82% of citizens and 78% of doctors believe that the recent measures do not improve the access.

This is the depiction of the situation experienced by Greek citizens in a health system hit by austerity policies of memorandums. As Ms. Tripsa noted in her presentation, equity in health is constitutionally guaranteed right, and the creation or maintenance of inequalities are due to the policies followed.

In other ways, Mr. Georgiadis in his speech at the conference, praised for once again being a minister "in the era of the memorandum" and argued that "real heroes of the period are the ones that keep Greece upright by saying 'yes' rather than saying, the several rubbish we hear in Greece, on the heroic 'no' and to blackmail Europe and things like that". As for the claim that the whole world recognizes the progress of the country besides Greek journalists, the numbers of the research seem to refute him.