More information
Description
The NHS is under-financed after the economic crisis, while citizens are not able to cover the cost of care privately, making access to health services difficult for the entire population and especially for the most vulnerable groups, that do not have the financial capacity to pay for medicines and to do relatively quick tests at a private diagnostic centres, being obliged to address only specific public hospitals; in this case the delay for a simple test may range from 3 to 6 months, with severe consequences for the patient’s health.The aim of the project is to advocate for the access of all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable (i.e. elderly, refugee, unemployed, chronic and psychiatric patients) to quality free health services and appropriate medication, to positively influence the shaping of health and drug access policies by tabling rational proposals and effectively raising the rights of vulnerable groups to health by giving them a step-up and engaging them in investigative journalism.
Project actions include:
1) Collection of patient testimonies on the difficulty of accessing medical and diagnostic tests and conducting research
2) Study of the legal framework and qualitative research for donations of drugs - social pharmacies in Greece and abroad
3) Proposal to rationalize national policy based on evidence processing, study, research
4) Research journalism - Supervision of the current health-medicine system
5) Advocacy with an informative campaign, for the benefit of vulnerable citizens, strengthening their voice - disseminating to the media
MdM Greece, as the most prominent partner organization and project coordinator, will provide project management and administrative support and will participate in Actions 1, 3, 4 and 5 mentioned above. GIVMED will participate in Actions 2, 3, 4 and 5 and TPP in Actions 2, 4 and 5.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the following challenges:
- Access to Healthcare and Medicines for Vulnerable Social Groups (VSGs): Vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrants, the elderly, people living in poverty, and the forcibly displaced face significant barriers in accessing health services and medications. These barriers include physical distance from healthcare centers, inadequate public transport, long waiting times, and complicated administrative processes.
- Deterioration of Public Health Services: The socio-economic crisis, a long-standing cliental system, and devaluation of the public sector have led to a deterioration of public healthcare services, making it more difficult for vulnerable groups to receive timely and quality care.
- Health Inequalities Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic: The pandemic disproportionately affected vulnerable groups, further deepening health inequalities.
- Pharmaceutical Industry Gaps: The project highlighted the inefficiencies and failures within the pharmaceutical industry to meet global demand for medicines, especially during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project implemented the following activities:
- Field Research and Mapping Study: The project conducted field research to map the challenges faced by vulnerable social groups (VSGs) in accessing healthcare and medicines. The study used international health service access methodologies and focused on key pillars: Approachability, Acceptability, Availability, Affordability, Appropriateness, and Adequacy.
- Advocacy Campaign ("Every Donation A Story"): The project organized an advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the value of drug donations, highlighting the gaps and failures in the pharmaceutical industry’s response to global health crises. The campaign engaged MPs, MEPs, and members of the Greek Parliament to discuss these issues.
- Policy Development: The project developed policy proposals based on the findings of the field research and international comparisons. It aimed to address issues of healthcare access and drug availability for vulnerable groups.
- Comparative Literature Review: A comparative review of European health and pharmaceutical systems was carried out, focusing on waiting times, appointment-setting methods, efficacy-efficiency measurement tools, and drug pricing indicators in the UK, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The review compared these practices to those in Greece to identify best practices and areas for improvement.
The project achieved the following results:
- Beneficiaries:
- Vulnerable social groups (VSGs) such as women, children, elderly people, migrants, and people living in poverty, who face challenges in accessing healthcare and medicines, were the primary beneficiaries.
- Healthcare policymakers and lawmakers, as the advocacy campaign aimed to influence policy and decision-making at the national level.
- Key Outcomes:
- Awareness Raised: The advocacy campaign successfully brought attention to the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in accessing healthcare and medicines. The campaign also highlighted the inefficiencies in the pharmaceutical industry, with the participation of MPs and MEPs.
- Policy Proposals: The project produced policy proposals that could help address the issues identified in the research, potentially leading to improvements in healthcare access and the responsiveness of the pharmaceutical industry.
- Comparative Analysis: The comparative literature review provided valuable insights into how different European countries manage healthcare access, waiting times, and drug pricing, offering useful benchmarks for policy improvements in Greece.
Impact: The project contributed to raising awareness about healthcare access issues for vulnerable groups and initiated discussions on improving the pharmaceutical industry’s response. By engaging policymakers and providing a comparative analysis of international practices, the project laid the groundwork for potential changes in Greek healthcare policy, particularly regarding drug access and healthcare service delivery for vulnerable populations. The findings from the study and the advocacy campaign are likely to have a long-term impact on future healthcare policies and the allocation of resources for vulnerable groups in Greece.