BREAKING NEWS

Health experts: EU in 'denial' that sick economy costs life

By EU IN 'DENIAL' THAT SICK ECONOMY COSTS LIVES, H

MARCH 27, 2013 03:49

LONDON - Europe's financial crisis is costing lives, with suicides and infectious diseases on the rise, yet politicians are not addressing the problem, health experts said on Wednesday.

Deep budget cuts and growing unemployment are tipping more people into depression, and falling incomes mean fewer people can see their doctors or afford to buy medicines.

The result has been a reversal since 2007 of a long-term decline in suicide rates, coupled with worrying outbreaks of diseases including HIV - and even malaria - in Greece, according to an major analysis of European health in The Lancet journal.

Countering these threats requires strong social protection schemes, researchers argue. But the austerity measures imposed after a string of crises in southern Europe - most recently in Cyprus - has shredded such safety nets.

"There is a clear problem of denial of the health effects of the crisis, even though they are very apparent," said lead researcher Martin McKee of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, a group backed by the World Health Organisation.

DeSantis condemns pro-Hamas protests at elite universities

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/26/2024 08:34 AM

Egyptian intelligence chief to head delegation to Israel - report

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/26/2024 08:11 AM

US to announce new restrictions on firearm exports

By REUTERS

04/26/2024 07:54 AM

IDF, Hezbollah exchange fire on Lebanon border

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF

04/26/2024 01:22 AM