Nichola Bedington, European Patient’s Forum underlined key causes of declining access rooted in discrimination, rise in out-of pocket payments/co-payments as well as medicines, changes in health systems. Access and Empowerment of patients was also seen to be key. Frank Vanbiervliet, Doctor’s of the World, underlined the continuing impact of austerity, for example in Greece leaving 30% without healthcare coverage (OECD) and in Spain with the destruction of the universal healthcare system. In their research, the key barrier to health is financial (25.1%). However the impact of declining access affects everybody’s health – ie decline in vaccination/prevention/epidemic care. ‘A commitment needs to be made to Public Health Systems based on solidarity and equality, which is non-for-profit and open to anybody resident in the EU’. For more information see:
EAPN
The European Anti-Poverty Network
