Economic crisis and communicable disease control in Europe: a scoping review among national experts

Rechel, Boika, Suhrcke, Marc, Tsolova, Svetla, Suk, Jonathan E., Desai, Monica, McKee, Martin, Stuckler, David, Abubakar, Ibrahim, Hunter, Paul ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5608-6144, Senek, Michaela and Semenza, Jan C. (2011) Economic crisis and communicable disease control in Europe: a scoping review among national experts. Health Policy, 103 (2-3). pp. 168-175. ISSN 1872-6054

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The effects of the current global economic crisis on the spread and control of communicable diseases remain uncertain. This study aimed to explore experts' views about the impact of the current crisis and measures that have been undertaken by governments to mitigate an alleged adverse effect of the crisis on communicable diseases. METHODS: An online survey was conducted during November 2009-February 2010 among experts from national agencies for communicable disease control from European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. RESULTS: There were few specific national policies and programmes aimed at mitigating the impact of the economic crisis. Prevention services were deemed particularly susceptible to budget cuts (68%) as a result of the economic crisis compared to primary care (28%), according to survey respondents. Services targeted at vulnerable and hard-to-reach population groups were perceived to be at particular risk of deterioration (67%) in contrast to travel medicine (11%), according to respondents. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for sustainability of financial resources, public health workforce and infrastructures to ensure that the services and programmes for the surveillance and control of the spread of communicable disease are maintained and developed. There is also a need to explore and foster better linkage in data on socioeconomic circumstances and communicable disease outcomes.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Economics
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Depositing User: Rhiannon Harvey
Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2011 12:52
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 00:27
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/25916
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2011.06.013

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