Global financial crisis, health and healthcare professionals role implications: a review of literature

Aim. Identifying the effects of the global financial crisis on health, public health system(s) and healthcare workers is the main purpose of this paper. Material and methods. A review of the literature was undertaken. The following keywords were adopted: economic crisis, financial crisis, health implications, public health, unemployment, labour substitution, mental health, healthcare (nursing), and education as a Mesh word or text words in the title and in the abstract, via MedLine/ Cinahl and Scopus database. A ten-year timeframe (2001-2011) was set in order to include the most recent studies. Articles reporting the relationship between financial crisis, health problems, mortality, use of public health care service(s), and implications on healthcare workers roles were included and analysed. A content analysis methodology of the articles retrieved was then performed. Results. The economic downturn that has unfolded in recent years is expected to produce adverse social and health effects. Extended research data reveal that people’s health status is definitely affected by the economic crisis and consequently the healthcare sector will have to be reformed to meet the new challenges more efficiently. Economics depressions have a direct impact on overall health, on public spending directed to the healthcare system, on the quality of the services provided and on restructuring of the roles and functions of healthcare personnel. Conclusions. Preliminary lessons learnt from the current global financial crisis suggest undertaking several strategies at the: a) social and public health level, b) healthcare system level; c) healthcare workers education level and, d) at the nursing professional level. (PNN 2012;1(4):164–169) Key words: economic crisis,