Healthcare resources consumed by foreign patients in the public hospitals of East Macedonia and Thrace

Abstract

The rising healthcare expenditures as percentage of GDP is a reality that all developed countries have to deal with. Epidemiologic standards have changed dramatically since the past. The rapid development of knowledge in the scientific field of medicine and the new state of the art medical technology has led to new treatments for various health problems. Prior fatal diseases have become chronic, and life expectancy has risen significantly, leading healthcare costs to explosion. Healthcare spending in Greece has been increased between 2000 and 2009 at a rapid rate of 6.1% per year, but it has dropped the following years, driven by a sharp reduction in public spending on health care as part of government-wide efforts to reduce the large budgetary deficit. This situation has caused an increasing offence sense in population. On the other hand, the last years, Greece has become an immigrant (legal and illegal) reception centre. This study presents comparative data about the consumed resources by Greek and foreign patients in the public hospitals of east Macedonia and Thrace for the years 2006-2010.