Authors: George Fragkiadakis

Title: The impact of COVID-19 on European and Greek healthcare systems: an overview and future recommendations.

Abstract

Background: The pandemic COVID -19 has drastically affected health systems around the world. European and Greek health systems have faced unprecedented challenges since the outbreak of the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on these health systems is multifaceted, affecting resource availability, care delivery and the overall well-being of the population. The globalised context of this health crisis forced a regular stocktaking of the input-output relationship, so that the approach of decision-makers and the adaptation of governance systems are made according to the specificities of each state. Although Western European countries benefited from having strong health systems, Eastern European countries, including Greece, with weaker health systems initially seemed to cope better with this crisis. In this context, the legitimate question has been raised as to how this overwhelming difference in the degree of effectiveness of health systems in the first wave of the health crisis could have occurred.

Aim - Methods: This article provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on the European and Greek health systems, and future recommendations for improving the resilience and preparedness of these systems. Secondary data from sources of official government agencies and organizations such as Eurostat, the System of Health Accounts, the National Statistics Office, and the World Health Organization were used for the study. This study addresses the economic impact of the pandemic in Europe and Greece, focusing on the analysis of health care costs in the different health care systems. In addition, the study highlights the impact of the coronavirus on the health status of the population, focusing on life expectancy, which according to the data has been dramatically affected in some European health systems.

Key Points:

1. The efficiency of health systems during the pandemic shows fluctuations related to the presence of strong economies and a strong health system in the states and influenced by the time phase in which the waves of the pandemic manifested themselves.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses of the European and Greek health systems, such as inadequate staffing, inadequate resources, and limited surge capacity.
3. The pandemic has also highlighted the need for increased collaboration between health systems and other sectors, such as public health, social services, and emergency management.
4. The pandemic has led to changes in the delivery of care, including the adoption of telemedicine and digital health solutions, which have the potential to improve access and efficiency of care in the future.
5. Future recommendations for improving the resilience and preparedness of the health systems include increasing investment in public health and healthcare infrastructure, improving coordination and communication between health systems, and investing in the development and implementation of digital health solutions.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the European and Greek health systems, highlighting the need for greater investment in healthcare infrastructure, increased collaboration between health systems and other sectors, and the adoption of digital health solutions. Addressing the weaknesses exposed by the pandemic and implementing the recommended strategies will help to improve the resilience and preparedness of these health systems in the face of future crises. The increased health needs and costs associated with an emergency such as the pandemic, combined with the need to provide quality services, have necessitated the development of an equitable and efficient health system. The Covid-19 experience can contribute to the formulation and implementation of a transformative prevention and management policy and strategy leading to integrated and effective health care.