The introduction of Greek Central Health Fund: Has the reform met its goal in the sector of Primary Health Care or is there a new model needed?

A Groundbreaking Insight Into Primary Care Physiotherapists' Remuneration

Introduction Physiotherapy in Greece, as part of primary health care (PHC), faces sound imbalances: reduced quality, productivity, and efficiency, along with rather inflexible remuneration schemes. This study is aimed at reporting the attitude and perceptions of Greek PHC physiotherapists toward their current remuneration and also at identifying any other preferable remuneration schemes. Methods A stratified proportional sampling study was undertaken, using an anonymous, electronic survey. The participants were 250 self-employed physiotherapists running their business in Central and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, being also contracted with the National Organisation for Healthcare Provision (EOPYY). The sample size stands for 34% of the population with a circa 5% margin of error. Results Nearly 9/10 physiotherapists (84%) underline that remuneration falls short of their productivity, leading to reduced job satisfaction. Moreover, their remuneration does not motivate them to provide services of higher quality (46%), while 58% of them stated that they are forced to claim informal fees. There is no clear desire regarding the remuneration scheme, but nearly ¼ of physiotherapists revealed their preference for the cost-per-case philosophy combined with co-payments. Conclusion The majority of physiotherapists believe that their current remuneration does not reflect their productivity nor the quality of their services and, therefore, informal payments arise. The preference of physiotherapists lies between cost-per-case fees and patient co-payments, which, however, favors supplier-induced demand and access inequalities, respectively. Hence, policymakers should revise the current remuneration scheme and overcome its deficiencies without creating new ones.

Sustainability of Healthcare Financing in Greece: A Relation Between Public and Social Insurance Contributions and Delivery Expenditures

The economic crisis in Greece, which began in 2010 and lasted for 10 years, highlighted the serious problems and challenges of the Greek Social Health Insurance system. The reforms that mainly took place during the crisis provided a temporary solution. They focused on establishing a new National Organization for Healthcare Services (named EOPYY) and merging all the old insurance funds. This paper aims to examine whether this social health insurance fund has been sustainable in the long run. An actuarial model was created to project future expenses and revenues. Demographic and economic trends were considered, while it was assumed that medical technology remains unaltered. The assessment of the system solvency was based on the ratio (Revenue/Liabilities) calculated for each year, from 2020 to 2050. The results led to deficits, the amount and the time point in which they appear depends on how optimistic or pessimistic demographic and economic assumptions were. A new financial flow model was proposed to address the deficits. The results show that under the new model, the system remains solvent until 2050. The state subsidy amount on the employees’ health insurance premium was estimated as a percentage of the employees’ wage.

Citizen Preferences for Primary Health Care reform in Greece

BACKGROUND

The Greek National Health System is currently pursuing the strengthening of Primary Health Care (PHC). Citizen preferences for healthcare service utilization, their views on structural reform of the current system, and the profiling of those in favor of PHC are essential in planning a reform that respects citizens' needs. However, data on this topic in the country are scarce. The present study maps citizen preferences for health care reform in the primary care sector in Greece.

METHODS

In March 2017, a sample of 1,002 citizens were surveyed by telephone. The survey was repeated with a different sample of 1,001 persons in October 2017. Both samples were defined via a random multistage selection process using a quota for the municipality of residence, sex, and age. Responders were asked to rate their satisfaction with the existing healthcare system and to rank their preferences as to the most important elements of future structural reform. Barriers to accessing healthcare services and in the implementation of structural reform as well as actual healthcare services utilization were also recorded. A logistic regression model was used to identify sample characteristics independently associated with the most requested reform.

RESULTS

Citizens preferred to visit physicians -as outpatients- in their private practices (50.5 % in March and 44 % in October) rather than in public health services (17.8 % and 18 %, respectively). For 86.9 % and 85.6 %, respectively, structural reform of the current health system was considered "very" or "extremely necessary". The introduction of family physicians in the system was the most requested reform (48 % and 49.4 %, respectively). Citizens in older age groups were more likely to request the implementation of family physicians (25-39 years old: OR: 2.14, 95 % CI: 1.36-3.37; 40-54 years old: OR: 2.89, 95 % CI: 1.85-4.52; 55-64 years old: OR: 3.62, 95 % CI: 2.27-5.78; and over 65 years old: OR: 3.32, 95 % CI: 2.10-5.26). Male responders were 23 % less likely (OR: 0.77, 95 % CI: 0.63-0.93) to be in favor of this reform, after controlling for the other variables in the model.

CONCLUSIONS

Both survey streams reveal the growing demand for structural reform in the current healthcare system. Strengthening PHC is the most requested reform. Older and female citizens were more likely to be in favor of this reform. Integrating the private sector in developing a comprehensive PHC system, enhancing existing public health services, and increasing public awareness of the advantages of PHC should be considered critical elements of a high-quality PHC system. HIPPOKRATIA 2019, 23(3): 111-117.

Depressive mood in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in Greece

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES

To provide data on depressive symptoms rates in the Greek SCI population and to investigate their association with demographic and clinical variables.

SETTING

Greek territory.

METHODS

One hundred and sixty-four individuals with SCI living in the community for at least 1 year after the completion of the primary inpatient rehabilitation program were included in the study. Our group of participants were enrolled from multiple rehabilitation centers throughout Greece and were evaluated for probable depression according to the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Univariable and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the possible association of risk factors with the occurrence of depression. We had also examined the correlation between PHQ-9 and scales measuring social reintegration (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART)), quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)), and independence (Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM)).

RESULTS

It was found that 18.2% of the sample had probable depression. The mean (SD) PHQ-9 score was 5.7  (4.9). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that high pain scores (P = 0.001) and suffering from both nociceptive and neuropathic pain (P = 0.005) were associated with depressive mood, while pressure ulcers had a significant effect (P = 0.049) only in the univariable analysis. Participant's PHQ-9 scores had also a negative correlation with almost all CHART, WHOQOL-BREF, and SCIM subscales' scores.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documents relatively low rates of probable depression among individuals with SCI in Greece. Severe pain and pressure ulcers were the main identified predictors of depressive mood.

CURRENT ENVIRONMENT FOR INTRODUCING HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN GREECE

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the current regulatory environment in Greece to evaluate the potential introduction of health technology assessment (HTA) for medicinal products for human use.

Methods: Data sources consist of national legislation on pricing and reimbursement of health technologies to identify the potential need of establishing HTA and its relevant structure.

Results: The pricing procedure regarding medicinal products for human use is based on an external reference pricing mechanism which considers the average of the three lowest Euorpean Union prices. Currently, a formal HTA procedure has not been applied in Greece, and the only prerequisite used for the reimbursement of medicinal products for human use is their inclusion in the Positive Reimbursement List. To restrict pharmaceutical expenditure, a variety of measures—such as clawback mechanisms, rebates, monthly budget caps per physician, generics penetration targeting—have been imposed, aiming mainly to regulate the price level rather than control the introduction of medicinal products for human use in the Greek pharmaceutical market.

Conclusions: Greece has the opportunity to rapidly build capacity, implement, and take advantage of the application of HTA mechanisms by clearly defining the goals, scope, systems, context, stakeholders, and methods that will be involved in the local HTA processes, taking into account the country's established e-prescription system and the recently adapted legislative framework.

Informing primary care reform in Greece: patient expectations and experiences (the QUALICOPC study)

Background

Primary health care is the cornerstone of a high quality health care system. Greece has been actively attempting to reform health care services in order to improve heath outcomes and reduce health care spending. Patient-centered approaches to health care delivery have been increasingly acknowledged for their value informing quality improvement activities. This paper reports the quality of primary health care services in Greece as perceived by patients and aspects of health care delivery that are valued by patients.

Methods

This study was conducted as part of the Quality and Costs of Primary Care in Europe (QUALICOPC) study. A cross-sectional sample of patients were recruited from general practitioner’s offices in Greece and surveyed. Patients rated five features of person-focused primary care: accessibility; continuity and coordination; comprehensiveness; patient activation; and doctor–patient communication. One tenth of the patients ranked the importance of each feature on a scale of one to four, and nine tenths of patients scored their experiences of care received. Comparisons were made between patients with and without chronic disease.

Results

The sample included 220 general practitioners from both public and private sector. A total of 1964 patients that completed the experience questionnaire and 219 patients that completed the patient values questionnaire were analyzed. Patients overall report a positive experiences with the general practice they visited. Several gaps were identified in particular in terms of wait times for appointments, general practitioner access to patient medical history, delivery of preventative services, patient involvement in decision-making. Patients with chronic disease report better experience than respondents without a chronic condition, however these patient groups report the same values in terms of qualities of the primary care system that are important to them.

Conclusions

Data gathered may be used to improve the quality of primary health care services in Greece through an increased focus on patient-centered approaches. Our study has identified several gaps as well as factors within the primary care health system that patient’s perceive as most important which can be used to prioritize quality improvement activities, especially within the austerity period. Study findings may also have application to other countries with similar context and infrastructure.

Primary Care Doctors' Assessment of and Preferences on Their Remuneration

Despite numerous studies on primary care doctors' remuneration and their job satisfaction, few of them have quantified their views and preferences on certain types of remuneration. This study aimed at reporting these views and preferences on behalf of Greek doctors employed at public primary care. We applied a 13-item questionnaire to a random sample of 212 doctors at National Health Service health centers and their satellite clinics. The results showed that most doctors deem their salary lower than work produced and lower than that of private sector colleagues. Younger respondents highlighted that salary favors dual employment and claim of informal fees from patients. Older respondents underlined the negative impact of salary on productivity and quality of services. Both incentives to work at border areas and choose general practice were deemed unsatisfactory by the vast majority of doctors. Most participants desire a combination of per capita fee with fee-for-service; however, 3 clusters with distinct preferences were formed: general practitioners (GPs) of higher medical grades, GPs of the lowest medical grade, residents and rural doctors. Across them, a descending tolerance to salary-free schemes was observed. Greek primary care doctors are dissatisfied with the current remuneration scheme, maybe more than in the past, but notably the younger doctors are not intended to leave it. However, Greek policy makers should experiment in capitation for more tolerable to risk GPs and introduce pay-for-performance to achieve enhanced access and quality. These interventions should be combined with others in primary care's new structure in an effort to converge with international standards.

Reporting mental health problems of undocumented migrants in Greece: A qualitative exploration

BACKGROUND

Mental health problems are highly prevalent amongst undocumented migrants (UMs), and often part of their consultations with general practitioners (GPs). Little empirical data are available of how GPs and UMs engage around mental health in Greece, a country with a lack of balance between primary and secondary care and limited healthcare provisions for UMs.

OBJECTIVES

To acquire insight in the barriers and levers in the provision of mental healthcare for UMs by GPs in Greece.

METHODS

This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 12 GPs in Crete, Greece with clinical expertise in the care of UMs. All interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim and were analysed using thematic content analysis.

RESULTS

Greek GPs recognized many mental health problems in UMs and identified the barriers that prevented them from discussing these problems and delivering appropriate care: growing societal resistance towards UMs, budget cuts in healthcare, administrative obstacles and lack of support from the healthcare system. To overcome these barriers, Greek GPs provided UMs with free access to care and psychotropic drugs free of charge, and referred to other primary care professionals rather than to mental healthcare institutions.

CONCLUSION

Greek GPs experienced substantial barriers in the provision of mental healthcare to UMs and political, economic and organizational factors played a major role.