The effectiveness of primary health carereforms in Greece towards achievinguniversal health coverage: a scoping review

Myloneros, Thanos and Sakellariou, Dikaios ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2668-2834 2021. The effectiveness of primary health carereforms in Greece towards achievinguniversal health coverage: a scoping review. BMC Health Services Research 21 , 628. 10.1186/s12913-021-06678-9

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Abstract

Introduction:Between 2010 and 2018, Greece implemented an Economic Adjustment Programme and underwenta series of extensive reforms, including in the health sector. We conducted a scoping review to examine whetherthe Primary Health Care reforms during that period assisted the country in moving towards Universal HealthCoverage. Methods:We performed a review of the literature on the following databases: Scopus, PubMed, Epistemonikos,Web of Science, and Google Scholar, including published research articles and grey literature. Findings were synthesised thematically, using the World Health Organization Universal Health Coverage dimensions: populationcoverage, service coverage, and financial protection. Results:Forty-four documents were included in this review. Out of these, thirty-eight were research-based (thirty-three qualitative, two quantitative, and three mixed design studies), two grey literature, and four legislative bills. Theevidence suggests that despite the systemic interventions addressing longstanding distortions, populationcoverage, service coverage and financial protection have not significantly improved. Conclusions:This review suggests that Primary Health Care reforms in Greece have not managed to substantiallyimprove Universal Health Coverage, although some positive steps towards that direction have taken place with theestablishment of community-based multidisciplinary health teams. Before further interventions are implemented, anevidence-based monitoring and evaluation mechanism is necessary in order to clearly evaluate their effectivenessand progress.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Additional Information:	This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Publisher:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	1472-6963
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 July 2021
Date of Acceptance:	23 June 2021
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 07:38
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/142270

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