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National Health Policy In Greece: Regulations Or Reforms ? The Sisyphus Myth

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  • Nicholas Polyzos
  • Charalampos Economou
  • Christos Zilidis

Abstract

This paper attempts an evaluation of health care reforms and regulations in Greece. The main findings indicate that the existing Conservative Government has kept but not developed some previous Social-democrats’ major reforms concerning decentralisation and hospital management arrangements. The government also announced new regulations concerning the pharmaceutical sector and the procurement procedures of the national health units. On the other hand, precedent regulations for primary health care were to be postponed and the fundamental financing issue of the system has been neglected. In addition, this paper intends to take parallel account that terms such as globalisation and enlargement are still within the European perspective of the country. Overall, the Greek NHS seems to be developed and enlarged, besides the lack of strong political will to consider reforms and even regulations, into a continuous managerial process, assessment and public dialogue. In this sense, there is a continuing gap between - on the one hand - principles and goals and - on the other hand - rational planning, political issues and implementation process, all resulting in a never-ending reform scenario.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Polyzos & Charalampos Economou & Christos Zilidis, 2008. "National Health Policy In Greece: Regulations Or Reforms ? The Sisyphus Myth," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 91-118.
    • Handle: RePEc:ers:journl:v:xi:y:2008:i:3:p:91-118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Huw Talfryn Oakley Davies & Russell Mannion, 1999. "Clinical governance: striking a balance between checking and trusting," Working Papers 165chedp, Centre for Health Economics, University of York.
    2. Avgerinos, Efthimios D. & Koupidis, Sotirios A. & Filippou, Dimitrios K., 2004. "Impact of the European Union enlargement on health professionals and health care systems," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 403-408, September.
    3. Ashton, Toni & Cumming, Jacqueline & McLean, Janet, 2004. "Contracting for health services in a public health system: the New Zealand experience," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(1), pages 21-31, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacek Borzyszkowski & Adrian Lubowiecki-Vikuk, 2019. "Destination Management Organizations and Health Tourism Visual Identification in Central and Eastern Europe," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 241-261.

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