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- Title
THE EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL CRISIS TOWARDS THE HEALTH CARE DEPARTMENT OF HELLENIC POLICE.
- Authors
ANTONOPOULOS, K. Dimitrios; POULIANOS, Georgios
- Abstract
PURPOSE: to present the effects of financial crisis on the Health Care Department of Police, the importance of individual factors and suggestion of possible solutions. Materials & METHODS: Data collected from the Athens Central Health Office were used, concerning three consecutive years (medical cases only, neither dental nor from physiotherapists). A comparison of the data was done based on several parameters. A significant report has been done for active forces of policemen such as motorcyclists (Zeus force-Delta force, etc) as well as the loss of health on the staff in general. The number of incoming patients on the Police Health Care Offices was compared to those visiting the National Health Care System and to the incoming retired patients. RESULTS: A big increase of the incoming patients on the Police Health Care Offices was shown, during the time period investigated. The biggest increase came after the change of the National Health Care System; despite the fact the policemen had the chance to be examined through a big number of doctors, apart from those in the Police Department, as well as to have hospitalization in National Hospitals. The increase of coming policemen to the Police Health Care Offices for the year of 2012 reached 50% compared to the previous year (2011). A big increase of visiting retired patients was also shown, almost doubling the number of examined patients during the last trimester of 2012 (increase of almost 100%). CONCLUSION: The financial crisis has brought changes to the National Health Care System since 1-1-2012, but not to the Police Health Care Department. Policemen have the option of asking the services of both the Police Health Care Offices and the National Health Care System, but it is quite obvious that the prefer to be examined by their own familiar doctors. This phenomenon is definitely more intense in periods of stress and economic hardship. The cooperation with the Army hospitals as well as the increase of the number of Police doctors could be a solution although the latter may prove difficult in a period of financial crisis.
- Publication
Balkan Military Medical Review, 2013, Vol 16, p129
- ISSN
1107-6275
- Publication type
Article