The impact of the financial crisis on health and health care in Greece

The financial crisis that erupted in Greece in late 2009 affected the implementation of social policy and hence the health policies. This literature review on the impact of the crisis on health and healthcare provision was based on the recommendations of the Centre for Review and Dissemination. The method of thematic analysis was used, and the results illustrate the intense scientific interest in this issue and show that the austerity policies have adversely affected the health status of the population, and especially mental health, mortality rates and the dynamics of infectious diseases. Certain health-related behaviors, such as smoking and exercise, have shown improvement, and favorable effects on the frequency and consequences of road accidents have been observed. Cuts in healthcare spending exacerbated the pre-existing deficiencies in human and other resources in the public sector, which combined with the growing demand for free health services, has adversely affected the accessibility and availability of the healthcare facilities and the quality of the services provided. Consequently, it is apparent that the reform measures adopted have widened health inequalities and increased the hospital deficits and the unmet healthcare needs of the population. The findings that emerged from this review are in general agreement with research results, and highlight the need to eliminate health disparities for vulnerable populations and ensure sustainability and efficiency in healthcare provision.