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