Health systems and the financial crisis

The global economic crisis has affected most sectors, including the health sector. Although rather unpopular, some governments have responded with policies aimed at reducing public spending on health care.

Some of the more common reforms across countries have endeavoured to moderate the growing budgets for health services; rationalise the benefit packages; increase the share of health expenditure paid by private households; and implement wide-reaching reforms in the pharmaceutical market.

• Primary Source

European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies: Eurohealth http://www.euro.who.int/en/who-we-are/partners/observatory/eurohealth

ESO: Background information: Health policy responses to the financial crisis in Europe http://www.europeansources.info/record/health-policy-responses-to-the-financial-crisis-in-europe/

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