Social protection in transition economies
Social protection is often not considered as a priority for countries experiencing transition from planned to market economies (China, parts of South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the republics of the former Soviet Union).
In Iatrogenic Poverty, Meessen et al show that in many transition countries, the introduction of market mechanisms (including households’ higher control on their assets and production) has led to the abandonment of arrangements that provided social protection (e.g. employment for all, free health care), before a sufficient consolidation of social protection mechanisms are available in market economies such as insurance.
Many health care markets in transitional countries are insufficiently regulated. As a consequence, some healthcare providers exploit patients (e.g. by prescribing unnecessary care) to the extent that they are pushed into poverty. Poverty induced by medicine is also called iatrogenic poverty.
Facing the challenges of health care financing explores which health financing and social protection reforms were proposed in countries of Central and Easter Europe and of Commonwealth of Independent States to answer the emerging needs of an environment under transition. The paper reports difficulties in implementing effective (social) health insurance systems, reliance on out-of-pocket payments, and survival of widespread informal payments, which compromise the equity and efficiency of health services.
In Iatrogenic Poverty, Meessen et al show that in many transition countries, the introduction of market mechanisms (including households’ higher control on their assets and production) has led to the abandonment of arrangements that provided social protection (e.g. employment for all, free health care), before a sufficient consolidation of social protection mechanisms are available in market economies such as insurance.
Many health care markets in transitional countries are insufficiently regulated. As a consequence, some healthcare providers exploit patients (e.g. by prescribing unnecessary care) to the extent that they are pushed into poverty. Poverty induced by medicine is also called iatrogenic poverty.
Facing the challenges of health care financing explores which health financing and social protection reforms were proposed in countries of Central and Easter Europe and of Commonwealth of Independent States to answer the emerging needs of an environment under transition. The paper reports difficulties in implementing effective (social) health insurance systems, reliance on out-of-pocket payments, and survival of widespread informal payments, which compromise the equity and efficiency of health services.
- Iatrogenic poverty
- ( B. Meessen; Z. Zhenzhong; W. van Damme; N. Devadasan; B. Criel; G. Bloom / Tropical Medicine & International Health , 2003)
- This article, published in Tropical Medicine and International Health, examines the issues surrounding “iatrogenic poverty” – poverty caused by spending on medical treatment. In countries which have ...
- Facing the challenges of health care financing
- ( A. Dixon; J. Langenbrunner; E. Mossialos / European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies , 2004)
- This article, published by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies as chapter 3 of the book "Health Services in Transition: Learning from Experience," examines efforts to strengthen he...
