Economic crisis

Health systems in times of global economic crisis: an update of the situation in the WHO European Region

WHO has worked with many Member States on various areas of policy to assist them in navigating through the crisis. This work, as well as an in-depth examination of selected countries and the results of a survey on how countries have responded to the crisis by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and WHO, was presented at a recent conference on health systems and the economic crisis (17–18 April Oslo). During the conference in Oslo, the negative impact that the (...)

[EPHA Briefing] Access to Medicines in Europe in Times of Austerity

When discussing the topic of access to medicines in the context of the economic crisis we have to consider three determinants: affordability and availability, in terms of access to medicines, and innovation in terms of developing new methods of assuring best possible health outcomes. AFFORDABILILTY Usually, health expenditures are mostly covered by public funding and supplemented by private spending. The economic crisis has forced public expending to be cut making patient co-payment (...)

[EPHA position paper] Reforming Health Sy­stems in Times of Austerity

Amidst the backdrop of the economic crisis and countries being recommended to reform health systems to achieve better public administrations and fiscal consolidation, EPHA launches its position on health system reforms. This position includes lessons learned and recommendations for equality.

European Immunization Week 2013: Prevent - Protect - Immunize

As the European Immunization Week unfolds (22-27 April 2013), it is worth to re-emphasise immunization as a cost-effective public health preventive measure. It is particularly true in times of economic crisis and public spending cuts affecting essential health services needed to prevent the re-emergence of communicable diseases in Europe (and elsewhere). On an annual basis, for one week in April, all countries across the European Region unite under the European Immunization Week’s (...)

European Year for Citizens - moving to a Union for Citizens

On 23 April 2013 the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, organised a high level event to help focus on European citizens and how they can contribute to shaping the European Union. The Ombudsman was joined by, among others, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Maroš Šefčovič Vice-President of the European Commission. EPHA congratulates the European Ombudsman for addressing the (...)

EP resolution underlines the need for action on medicines access problem

On 18 April, the European Parliament (EP) voted on a Resolution on the impact of the financial and economic crisis on human rights. The resolution highlighted some of the global impacts of the crisis on the right to health. EPHA applauds the EP’s recognition of the multiple impacts of the crisis on ordinary people and the need to further champion public health across Europe. The Resolution states that "the rising price of medicines (by up to 30%) is having a negative impact on the (...)

[EPHA Call to Action] Health in the reform of economic governance

EPHA has launched a call for action for health, civil society and the reform of EU economic governance. Since the financial crisis began in 2007, the EU has introduced numerous new mechanisms, such as tighter coordination of economic and fiscal policies, to alleviate the current symptoms and prevent their recurrence. Several of those measures have impacts on health systems and consequently on health. The EU nowadays has stronger influence and control over national health systems than it (...)

[Médecins du monde] Access to healthcare in Europe in times of crisis and rising xenophobia

On the 9th of April 2013, Doctors of the World International Network (Médecins du monde) presented its latest report, with some of the results of comparative data collected in 2012 in 14 cities across seven European countries. This report covers a sample of 8,412 patients, 19,302 consultations (including 10,968 medical consultations) and 11,921 diagnoses reported by their volunteer health professionals. In order to capture the context in which this data collection took place, a concise (...)

Policy responses to the economic crisis – a shift towards investing in health?

[Public Statement] International Romani Day - the curse of being Roma in Europe and getting proper healthcare

It is high time for the EU and national leaders to fix all what is wrong with the social factors that trap the Roma population in a vicious cycle of ill-health. Policy-makers can do a better job to make sure that Roma people across Europe do not have to endure an additional series of obstacles to become healthy and productive members of the societies in which they live. Six million Roma live in the EU (1), in what represents Europe’s largest ethnic group. The Roma are one of the most (...)