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BackThe austerity policy of the Troika is supposed to lead to the consolidation of public households; however, its impact on countries affected by the pressure to cut costs, has disastrous consequences in some cases. Already in the past, AK and ÖGB have time and again emphasised that the austerity programmes should not be used to abolish social standards, which had been contended successfully over many decades and to privatise important public sectors. Which concrete effects the policies of the Troika have, has been demonstrated in particular in the Greek healthcare sector. Here, many people were excluded from public healthcare and now depend on social projects such as the “Clinic of Solidarity“, which are funded by donations.
Cutting costs at whose expense?
In order to shed more light on the impact of the austerity policy in the health sector, AK and ÖGB hosted a panel discussion under the title “Healthcare in Times of Crisis” in Brussels. Participants were Sepp Wall-Strasser of the Austrian Trade Union Federation and director of “Weltumspannend Arbeiten” (Working Globally), the development association of the Austrian Trade Union Federation; Monika Vana, Austrian Green MEP; Ulrike Neuhauser, Vice-Secretary General of HOSPEEM, European Hospital & Healthcare Employers' Association and Karadimos Ioannis, activist in the “Clinic of Solidarity” in Thessaloniki.
Medical undersupply all over Greece
To begin with, Karadimos Ioannis described the situation in Greece. As part of the austerity policy of the Troika, spending in the health sector had to be reduced from 3.5 billion to 1.5 billion. These massive cuts lead to an undersupply throughout the country. Those who suffered most were in particular the lower income groups and people out of work, said Ioannis. In many cases, especially the unemployed are not adequately insured as the statutory health insurance expires after a year without a job. Because increasingly more hospitals reject these patients, medically trained groups have joined forces and established clinics, funded by donations, throughout the country.
Privatisation programme of the Troika
For that reason, Sepp Wall-Strasser of “Weltumspannend Arbeiten” has started a solidarity campaign for one of these self-governing hospitals, the “Clinic of Solidarity” in Thessaloniki. This project tries to actively fight against medical undersupply. In its capacity as the development association of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, “Weltumspannend Arbeiten” has for a long time been participating in the exchange between international trade unions. For him, the policy of the Troika shows similarities with the liberalisation programmes of the 1980ies in the global South, when lucrative sectors were privatised and public-sector services were massively cut. Hence, Wall-Strasser demands a change of course, which also includes growth and employment.
No EU funds for primary care
Ulrike Neuhauser pointed out that in spite of the fact that the European Union made funds available these would often not reach the facilities where they were needed the most. For example, money from the European Social Fund was not allowed to be used for day-to-day operations. However, the Greek Health sector had been so far forced to its knees that in particular financing daily primary care would be important. However, she also thinks that the Greek State too has the responsibility to use the few available funds where they are needed
European movements against privatisation
Monika Vana criticised in particular the liberalisations and privatisations in Greece in the course of the Troika policy. The European Parliament too would observe these developments with growing concern, said Vana. At the same time, she pointed to possibilities, which European citizens’ movements could bring. For example, initiatives such as “Right2Water” had shown, how much energy joined actions could develop.
In order to shed more light on the impact of the austerity policy in the health sector, AK and ÖGB hosted a panel discussion under the title “Healthcare in Times of Crisis” in Brussels. Participants were Sepp Wall-Strasser of the Austrian Trade Union Federation and director of “Weltumspannend Arbeiten” (Working Globally), the development association of the Austrian Trade Union Federation; Monika Vana, Austrian Green MEP; Ulrike Neuhauser, Vice-Secretary General of HOSPEEM, European Hospital & Healthcare Employers' Association and Karadimos Ioannis, activist in the “Clinic of Solidarity” in Thessaloniki.
Medical undersupply all over Greece
To begin with, Karadimos Ioannis described the situation in Greece. As part of the austerity policy of the Troika, spending in the health sector had to be reduced from 3.5 billion to 1.5 billion. These massive cuts lead to an undersupply throughout the country. Those who suffered most were in particular the lower income groups and people out of work, said Ioannis. In many cases, especially the unemployed are not adequately insured as the statutory health insurance expires after a year without a job. Because increasingly more hospitals reject these patients, medically trained groups have joined forces and established clinics, funded by donations, throughout the country.
Privatisation programme of the Troika
For that reason, Sepp Wall-Strasser of “Weltumspannend Arbeiten” has started a solidarity campaign for one of these self-governing hospitals, the “Clinic of Solidarity” in Thessaloniki. This project tries to actively fight against medical undersupply. In its capacity as the development association of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, “Weltumspannend Arbeiten” has for a long time been participating in the exchange between international trade unions. For him, the policy of the Troika shows similarities with the liberalisation programmes of the 1980ies in the global South, when lucrative sectors were privatised and public-sector services were massively cut. Hence, Wall-Strasser demands a change of course, which also includes growth and employment.
No EU funds for primary care
Ulrike Neuhauser pointed out that in spite of the fact that the European Union made funds available these would often not reach the facilities where they were needed the most. For example, money from the European Social Fund was not allowed to be used for day-to-day operations. However, the Greek Health sector had been so far forced to its knees that in particular financing daily primary care would be important. However, she also thinks that the Greek State too has the responsibility to use the few available funds where they are needed
European movements against privatisation
Monika Vana criticised in particular the liberalisations and privatisations in Greece in the course of the Troika policy. The European Parliament too would observe these developments with growing concern, said Vana. At the same time, she pointed to possibilities, which European citizens’ movements could bring. For example, initiatives such as “Right2Water” had shown, how much energy joined actions could develop.