In a series of 3 articles from the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Greek authors examine the connection between the worsening of epidemiological indicators in public health and the need for costs to increase to cope with new needs stemming from the economic crisis and the austerity measures, particularly in the Greek healthcare system.
Greece’s economic crisis has deepened since it was bailed out by the international community in 2010. The country underwent the sixth consecutive year of economic contraction in 2013, with its economy shrinking by 20% between 2008 and 2012, and anaemic or no growth projected for 2014. Unemployment has more than tripled, from 7·7% in 2008 to 24·3% in 2012, and long-term unemployment reached 14·4%. We review the background to the crisis, assess how austerity measures have affected the health of the Greek population and their access to public health services, and examine the political response to the mounting evidence of a Greek public health tragedy.