Greece's health crisis: from austerity to denialism

Lancet. 2014 Feb 22;383(9918):748-53. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62291-6.

Abstract

Greece's economic crisis has deepened since it was bailed out by the international community in 2010. The country underwent the sixth consecutive year of economic contraction in 2013, with its economy shrinking by 20% between 2008 and 2012, and anaemic or no growth projected for 2014. Unemployment has more than tripled, from 7·7% in 2008 to 24·3% in 2012, and long-term unemployment reached 14·4%. We review the background to the crisis, assess how austerity measures have affected the health of the Greek population and their access to public health services, and examine the political response to the mounting evidence of a Greek public health tragedy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Community Health Services / economics
  • Community Health Services / trends
  • Delivery of Health Care* / economics
  • Delivery of Health Care* / trends
  • Economic Recession* / trends
  • European Union
  • Greece
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / therapy
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Health Care Rationing / economics
  • Health Care Rationing / trends
  • Health Policy / trends*
  • Health Services Accessibility / economics
  • Health Services Accessibility / trends
  • Health Services Needs and Demand / economics
  • Health Services Needs and Demand / trends
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Politics*
  • Public Health / economics*
  • Public Health / trends*
  • Public Sector
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Suicide / statistics & numerical data
  • Suicide / trends
  • Unemployment*