05/02/2011

The Crisis, Hospitals and Healthcare

The European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE) has been looking for the past year at the direct and indirect effects of the crisis on the European health systems. Its results are now available with the work published “The Crisis, Hospitals and Healthcare”. The comparative report details impacts and measures taken, on hospital and healthcare services, on healthcare professionals and on patients and citizens.

Representing more than 8% of European GDP, the healthcare sector receives the greatest share of its financial resources from public money. It is then directly affected by measures that have been cutting public expenses.

The main consequences of the resources restrictions on healthcare professionals are visible in employment policies and retirement reforms adopted by most European Member States.

Various measures, mirrors of the diversity of healthcare systems, have been adopted: increasing out-of-pocket and citizens’ contributions, wage cuts, spending ceilings and budget reductions. Some of them are not related to the crisis; but in any case they are all changing the healthcare landscape.

The report is available here

11/20/2008