Οι άτυπες πληρωμές στο χώρο τη υγείας
Informal payments in healthcare
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Keywords
Παραοικονομία ; Σκιώδης οικονομία ; Υπόγεια οικονομία ; Διαφθορά ; Παράτυπες πληρωμές ; Άτυπες πληρωμές ; Φακελάκι ; Φοροδιαφυγή ; Ιδιωτικές δαπάνες ; Πληρωμές των χρηστών ; Shadow economy ; Underground economy ; Corruption ; Irregular payments ; Informal payments ; Tax evasion ; Out of pocket expenditures ; User paymentsAbstract
In recent years, there has been ignited a scientific debate as to whether the validity of
the fundamental principle of equal access to health services is affected by out of pocket
payments. Scientific studies have shown that the access to health services depends to a
large extent on disposable income, whose variations also entail corresponding
differences in accessibility to diagnostic and therapeutic services. Thus, in the sector of
healthcare services, the continuous increase in demand, in combination with various
socio-economic factors minimizes patients’ influence and contrarily enhances
healthcare providers’ authority. Under these circumstances, the development of undereconomic
activity in healthcare transactions is enforced, causing financial loss to the
state and the citizens as well. In Greece, over the last years, due to the financial crisis,
which has also hit the healthcare sector, public funding has been decreased. However
private health expenditure, in the form of out of pocket expenditures, part of which are
the informal payments, has been increased. The present thesis analyzes the conceptual
and theoretical background of black economy in healthcare sector with a special focus
on the phenomenon of informal payments. In addition, this paper examines the causes,
the conditions and the reasons which push patients to informal payments. Finally, this
master thesis includes and analyzes the results of a survey conducted in various regions
of Attica, using a questionnaire, illustrating the current situation.