European health is suffering from the financial crisis

Financial crisis with negative health effects

05/28/2013

The health of the European population suffers from the effects of the financial crisis, according to one of the key messages in a recent series by the prestigious British science magazine „The Lancet“. In seven editorials, the journal covers various aspects of European health, including the gap between the health care system in Eastern and Western Europe, the quality of childcare and the impact of the aging population.

Special attention was drawn to the article by a British research team headed by Professor Martin McKee of the „London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine“, which describes the impact of the financial crisis on the health of the EU population. In particular, in crisis-hit countries such as Spain, Portugal and Greece, public health spending has been significantly reduced, which has a detrimental effect on medical care. In addition, there is a significant increase in suicides. According to the researchers, the number of suicides has risen again for the first time since 2007, throughout the European Union (EU).

Financial crisis with risks to health
„The financial crisis in Europe poses great opportunities and threats to health“, so the introductory sentence of the researchers in their current contribution. However, at first little is known about the opportunities, whereas the negative effects of the financial crisis on the health of the population in the particularly affected states are already clearly visible. The scientists have according to their own information „tracking the origins of the economic crisis in Europe and the reactions of governments, examining the impact on health systems, and examining the impact on health of past economic crises, to predict the probable consequences for the present.“ They also compared their forecasts „with the available evidence of the effects of the crisis on health.“

Health in Greece was particularly adversely affected by the financial crisis
The British researchers come to the conclusion that the health of the Greeks has suffered particularly hard from the financial crisis. According to the National Ministry of Health, in Greece, the number of suicides in the first five months of 2011 has risen by around 40 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year. Also, the policy has reduced the funds provided to public hospitals by more than a third. Here it is missing both medicines and the staff. „Outbreaks of infectious diseases are becoming more common and budget cuts have limited access to healthcare“, so the statement of the scientists. Particularly in the case of HIV infections, the researchers recorded a worrying increase in the wake of the financial crisis. The only good news was the decline in traffic fatalities and lower alcohol and tobacco consumption. For cars, tobacco and alcohol many seem to simply lack the money.

Crisis management with a significant effect on health
However, according to the authors, the individual crisis states were affected to a very different degree by the financial crisis. For example, the crisis in Iceland had hardly any negative effects on the health of the population. The British researchers suspect here a connection with the different ways of crisis management, which were taken in Iceland and countries such as Portugal, Spain or Greece. Iceland or the population of Iceland had decided in a referendum against the proposed drastic austerity measures. All major Icelandic banks were nationalized in 2008. In fact, apparently that was „Interplay of austerity measures and weak social protection“ In the context of economic shocks, crucial to the health and social consequences of the financial crisis in Europe, write Professor McKee and colleagues.

Missing voice for the health
„Policy decisions on how to respond to economic crises can have pronounced and unintended public health implications, but public health voices have remained largely silent during the economic crisis“, so the conclusion of the scientists. There is also a subliminal criticism of the behavior of the EU Commission and the rulers in the individual EU states. Accordingly, the negative consequences of the accelerated efforts to save in the crisis states for the health of the population were not sufficiently drawn to attention. (Fp)

Also read about financial crisis:
Women hit financial crisis stronger
The financial crisis makes Greeks sick

Picture credits: Uwe Schlick