Erosion of Social Security in Europe
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Transcript of Erosion of Social Security in Europe
Erosion of Social Security in EuropeErosion of Social Security in Europe
Geneeskunde voor het VolkMédecine pour le Peuple
www.gvhv-mplp.be
• 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)
What is Doctors for the People?
1. Social security in Europe
NettoloonBedrijfs
voor-heffing
Werk-nemer-bijdrage
Werkgevers-bijdrage
Brutoloon
Naar fiscus Naar RSZ
Totale loonkost
34%13%
Directe loon Indirecte loon
Financing through wages
Protection against the big risks of life
Importance
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:
• Increase co-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
3. Europe and the crisis
• “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