The Impact of Financial Crisis, Austerity Measures, and Bailout Agreement on Cypriots' Health: The Memorandum Is Dead, Long Live the Memorandum.

BACKGROUND

Cyprus entered a prolonged financial recession, which escalated to a bailout agreement with a team of international lenders. This rendered as prerequisites structural reforms aiming to enhance efficiency of the system.

OBJECTIVES

To report on the impact of the financial crisis and ensuing health sector reforms in Cyprus.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with datasets from the 2010 and 2014 (11 088 individuals and 9983 individuals, respectively) Cyprus European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. We analyzed data using a logistic regression model and also performed a documentary analysis.

RESULTS

Compared to 2010, in 2014 the percentage of Cypriots who self-reported their health state as very good was stable (1.03; confidence interval [CI] 95%, 0.98-1.09]), whereas the percentage of Cypriots who self-reported their health state as bad demonstrated a statistically significant reduction (0.75 [CI 95% 0.66-0.85]). The cumulative financial affordability impact the said measures had on the patients was negative: a significant increase was reported for patients reporting unmet medical needs ("cost" and "long waiting lists") (1.22 [CI 95% 1.03-1.35]), whereas inconclusive findings were reported apropos dental health needs (0.96 [CI 95% 0.88-1.04]).

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that crisis and health reforms did not exert any negative effects on Cypriots' health; nevertheless, a significant increase of patients who face difficulties in financing their health needs was reported. The mental health sector was, in particular, affected by the crisis, and consequently, health agencies must closely monitor this topic along with the aforementioned affordability issues.