Impact of Economic Crises on People’s Health by César Chelala

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http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/04/20-5

The deteriorating global economic outlook for some countries is increasing concern on the general population on the effects that the economic crises will have on people’s health. The crises now taking place in several European countries raise the possibility that a “cascade effect” of unpredictable but mostly negative consequences may affect people’s health and well being.

The economic crises affecting many countries have been exacerbated by additional factors such as an increasingly aging population, unhealthy lifestyles, rising costs of health care and public health policies aligned more toward providing acute rather than chronic care.

Not only governments, however, determine how to respond to economic crises. The cases of Greece and Cyprus, for example, show that the countries are at the mercy of funding from the “Troika”: The European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. According to experts, Cyprus needs now not only loans but grants from these institutions, given the country’s sharp deterioration in creditworthiness.

Economic crises, particularly in low and even middle-income countries, usually lead to reduction in demand for imports — including medicines and medical supplies and technology — and falling remittances from family members working outside the country. In addition, there is less government revenue to finance health and social services.