A scientific study published in British medical journal The Lancet reveals a rapid increase in mortality rates and overall health deterioration among Greece’s population since the offset of the economic crisis.

The analysis explores the linkage between abrupt reduction in government health expenditure in the post-austerity era and negative health consequences, while a comparison of health outcomes to those in Cyprus and Western Europe posits Greece as a unique case of austerity-driven health crisis.

Among the most concerning findings is the country’s rapid mortality rate increase during the period 2010-2016, with a five-times greater rate compared to the pre-austerity era.

Despite a slight rise in mortality experienced elsewhere in Western Europe, no other country suffered a deterioration on this scale, while globally death rates fell during the same period.

Importantly, many of the causes of the death on the rise refer to treatable conditions, including HIV, conditions affecting newborn babies and diseases associated with poor diet, alcohol abuse and smoking.

According to the researchers, this is likely to reflect an overall “reduced health system performance,” due to the savage cuts on public health expenditure as part of the austerity measures.

For instance, HIV incidence doubled from 2010 to 2012, at a rate of 10.4 per 100,000 population, an increase coinciding with the termination of the government syringe distribution programme at the time.

Cases of self-harm and adverse effects of medical treatment are highlighted among causes of death that have been consistently on the rise across all age groups, with prominent increases of self-harm observed among adolescents and young adults.

Overall, health spending dropped significantly since the start of the austerity programme making Greece’s “ratio of health-care expenditure to GDP[…]one of the lowest within the EU” with the researchers noting:

“This reduction has left hospitals with a deficit in basic supplies, while consumers are challenged by transient drug shortages.”

Comparing trends of health outcomes in Greece to the trajectory of Cyprus in the post-austerity era, the study reveals that the adverse effects of reduced health spending were less severe than those in Greece, a fact attributed also to Cyprus’ fastest recovery, with cuts followed by a structural reform growth-focused program encompassing the health-care system, in contrast to Greece, where “austerity measures aimed directly at the reduction of the health-care expenditure to GDP ration, without a structured plan for reform.”

The authors also refer to the need for updating the health system in light of the major demographic changes, as a result of the mass emigration of young skilled adults due to long-standing unemployment and low wages, as well as the country’s increasing ageing population.

On a related note, citing Greece as the second in line country within the EU with the highest number of doctors proportionally, they refer to “the availability of a medical workforce that is not efficiently utilised.”

The analysis concludes that the findings of increased mortality rates and overall health deterioration support the need for policy-making to address the unmet health needs of Greece’s population.