Petmesidou, M. – To Archeio

South European healthcare systems under harsh austerity: a progress– regression mix?

apostolos — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:29 +0000

This article addresses the question of whether the economic crisis provides a politically opportune time to drastically curtail public healthcare in South Europe or whether, instead, there are signs of longer-term reform strategies for potentially balancing fiscal targets with the quest for enhanced value and health outcomes, when eventually growth resumes. After a brief examination of the profile of healthcare systems in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain prior to the crisis, we comparatively assess the mix of retrenchment, restructuring and recalibration strategies. The effects of the austerity-driven reforms on current (and expected) health outcomes are also briefly analysed. We conclude with reflections on the future of public healthcare in South Europe.

Is social protection in Greece at a crossroads?

apostolos — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:21 +0000

This paper critically examines the limitations and deadlocks of welfare patterns embedded in the statist-familialist regime that for a long-time has been pivotal for the institutional set up and processes of social redistribution in Greece. Changes to social protection under the combined effect of conflicts and impasses of this regime, and of an intractable sovereign debt crisis (largely due to accumulated deadlocks) that has engulfed the country since the late 2000s are our main focus. Current welfare reforms across major policy areas are examined, with the aim to foreshadow the direction of impending change; and, particularly, to trace any indications of whether reform can bolster ‘inclusive solidarity’ and improve redistribution or, instead, will bring about heightened insecurity.