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Erosion of Social Security in Europe. Geneeskunde voor het Volk Médecine pour le Peuple www.gvhv-mplp.be. What is Doctors for the People?. 11 health care centres Established in 1971 Right to health Right to healthcare free and equal access for everyone (fee for service ↔ capitation)
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Erosion of Social Security in Europe Geneeskunde voor het VolkMédecine pour le Peuple www.gvhv-mplp.be
What is Doctors for the People? • 11 health care centres • Established in 1971 • Right to health • Right to healthcare • free and equal access for everyone (fee for service ↔ capitation) • patient-centered care • Multidisciplinary • Struggle for healthy working and living conditions • Empower patients • International solidarity (anti-imperialist)
Financing through wages Totale loonkost Brutoloon Nettoloon Bedrijfs voor- heffing Werk- nemer- bijdrage Werkgevers- bijdrage 13% 34% Naar fiscus Naar RSZ Directe loon Indirecte loon
2a. Erosion in B. health care: the stories • Annie • Terry • Theo & Alida
2b. Erosion in B. health care: the facts • 2009: 1/8 financial problems due to costs of health care • In case of chronic illness: 1/3 • 2008 NHI: 14 % postpone health care because of financial problems • '97: 8,5% // '04: 10,1%
2c. Erosion in B. health care: the causes • OECD: out of the pocket increased to 28% • Biggest factors: • Increaseco-payment • Increase costs for hospitalization (< extra fees on wage of specialists and medical material) • Underlying reason: lack of financing of doctors and hospitals by state • Costs grow < aging population & new technologies • Wage contribution diminishes < neoliberalism • ! leads to privatization
“What is going on is a silent revolution - a silent revolution in terms of stronger economic governance by small steps. The member states have accepted – and I hope they understood it exactly – but they have accepted very important powers of the European institutions regarding surveillance, and a much stricter control of the public finances.“ • J.M. Barroso, June 2010
Greece: the guinea pig of Europe • Economic disaster: • Debt: 105,4% GDP 2007-> 142,8% GDP 2011 • Unemployment: 6,6% 2008 -> 16,5% 2011 • Youth: 18,6% -> 40,1% • Austerity 40% cuts in hospital budgets • Public hospitals: 133 83 • Understaffing, shortage of medical supplies, bribes to jump queues
“Health effects of a financial crisis: a Greek tragedy” (Lancet 2011) • 2007-2009 • Homicide and theft rates doubled • Suicides rose by 17% • HIV-infections would rise by 52% between 2010-11 • < more heroin users, less street workers • < more prostitution • MDM: “There is a deepening humanitarian crisis in Greece, but nobody wants to see it.”
Conclusions • Health for all can be achieved partly through a strong social security • Only social struggle can get us there • BUT: neoliberalism & the crisis = a huge threat