Levett J. From Cradle of European Civilization to Grave Austerity: Does Greece Face a Creeping Health Disaster? Prehosp Disaster Med. 2013;28(6):1-2 .
While the global financial crisis started on the American continent, Greece has felt the biggest shock. As a result of government-imposed austerity measures following the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding,* population health and the health sector have been impacted. This adds a burden to the national health system (NHS), already facing compromised efficiency and effectiveness. Cuts in health and social protection budgets are an additional exacerbation. These events have precipitated serious discussion, variable opinions, and related activity, but there is limited research on the public health impact of austerity.1 In 2011, I suggested that the Memorandum could be damaging to health and that there is a creeping health disaster2 while Kentikelenis referred to the omens of disaster.3 If austerity was tested like a medication in a clinical trial, it would have been stopped long ago, given its deadly side effects, according to Stuckler and Basu.4 According to Blyth, austerity is a dangerous idea.5 In terms of the Utstein template,6 – 8 austerity is designated a health hazard, which can be exacerbated when national governance is weak.9 The outcome is a creeping disaster of uncertain dynamics.†