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Evaluating Cost Sharing Measures in Public Primary Units in Greece: Cost Sharing Measures in Primary Care

Author

Listed:
  • Olga Siskou

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Helen Stokou

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Mamas Theodorou

    (Postgraduate Programme on Health Policy and Planning, Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus)

  • Daphne Kaitelidou

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Peter Galanis

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Konstantinos Tsavalias

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Olympia Konstantakopoulou

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Georgios Charalambous

    (Emergency Department, Hippokrateio Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece)

  • Lycourgos L. Liaropoulos

    (Center for Health Services Management and Evaluation, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

Abstract

The mission of this paper is to investigate the economic viability and the workload imposed on nurses of the introduction of a cost sharing mechanism (€5/visit) in public primary health care units. The Ministry of Health provided administrative data for 2011 and 2012. Results highlighted the economic viability of the introduction of a cost sharing mechanism in Outpatient Departments of NHS Hospitals, as an annual economic benefit of €11.5 mil was reported. On the other hand, an annual deficit of €1.4 mil was estimated for Health Centers. Moreover, in the majority of Health Centers, nurses were put under altering employment in order to collect the fees. In times of economic recession, such as currently the case in Greece, negative consequences of cost sharing mechanisms may outweigh the positive ones. The decision on whether or not to introduce cost sharing arrangements is largely a political one and many factors (e.g. accessibility, equity, clinical outcomes) have to be taken into account, apart from economic results.

Suggested Citation

  • Olga Siskou & Helen Stokou & Mamas Theodorou & Daphne Kaitelidou & Peter Galanis & Konstantinos Tsavalias & Olympia Konstantakopoulou & Georgios Charalambous & Lycourgos L. Liaropoulos, 2015. "Evaluating Cost Sharing Measures in Public Primary Units in Greece: Cost Sharing Measures in Primary Care," International Journal of Reliable and Quality E-Healthcare (IJRQEH), IGI Global, vol. 4(4), pages 52-62, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:igg:jrqeh0:v:4:y:2015:i:4:p:52-62
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