WELFARE STATES AND DISABILITY IN GREECE IN COMPARISON TO EUROPE. BARRIERS OF ACCESS TO THE HEALTH SYSTEM
Anna Bousmpou, Ioannis Apostolakis , Pavlos Sarafis
Saturday, July 1, 2023
Publication year:
2023
Authors:
- Bousmpou Anna, Social Worker, Postgraduate student at the MSc in Health Care Management, School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra / Social Service, Municipality of Nea Propontida, Halkidiki, Greece
- Apostolakis Ioannis, Medical Informatics PhD, School of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patras / Laboratory of Medical Phys-ics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University, Athens
- Sarafis Pavlos, Assistant Professor, Technological University of Cyprus
Keywords index:
- Welfare States
- Types and Models of Disability
- Barriers to Health System Access and Strategies for Resolution
Pages: 266-276
Abstract:
Introduction: Welfare state analysis is an important tool for achieving population well-being. Specific population
groups such as persons with disabilities (PwD) constitute a large proportion of the general population, whο because of
their particular characteristics encounter significant obstacles in their daily lives to a greater extent than others. The
purpose of the article was the investigation of the typologies of the welfare states, the presentation of the epidemiological
situation of disability in Europe and the obstacles encountered by the PwD. The methodology included research
for information and statistics in Greek and foreign literature and sources. Results: The number of people who had
some kind of disability in Europe in 2021 is 87 million with Malta having the lowest disability rates (16.7%) and Latvia
the highest rates (37.1%) in Europe. In Greece over the last decade (2012-2021) the lowest disability rate was recorded
in 2012 with (22.6%) and the highest in 2015 with (24.8%). People with disabilities in Greece face many barriers. Some
of them are inequality, discrimination, lack of respect and integrated medical intervention, reduced autonomy and lack
of information, which make the access to the health care system very difficult. Conclusions: There is a need for
immediate intervention by the state through the creation of awareness and information actions for health professionals,
compliance with legislation on human rights and the conditions for the operation of health units (buildings and facilities)
and finally the installation of technologies that support the accessibility of people with disabilities, in order to eliminate
barriers and create a welfare state that provides equal access and social well-being for all.
