Osservatorio Italiano sulla Salute Globale
As doctors
and citizens, we have the obligation to respond and to advocate for the
protection of health and health care. As a consequence, we cannot ignore the
fact that the health of people in Greece has worsened to unacceptable levels. The
statistics are appalling and clearly show that the collapse of the Greek
economy and of its health system, and the impoverishment of people, is hitting the most vulnerable and those who
cannot be held responsible for the crisis. Children are dying; according to the
prestigious medical journal Lancet, infant mortality went up by 43% between 2008
and 2010, while the rate of low birth weight increased by 19%, due to the
reduction of antenatal care and the consequent worsening of maternal health. Medicines
are in short supply, HIV steps up again, life expectancy goes down.
We cannot
keep quiet; we must speak up and clearly state that people’s health comes
first. Greek citizen must be defended, protected, treated, rehabilitated,
cured, for a society that grows healthy.
We call for the highest priority to wariness
and action upon the current health tragedy in the ongoing negotiations between
the Greek government and the EU institutions. We urge that the former be given
the possibility to act for the recovery of fundamental rights, such as the
right to health, as promised to and wished by the Greek people.
We refer
also to article 35 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, ratified by all the
Member States, when it states that:
“A high
level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and
implementation of all the Union's policies and activities.”
Italian
Global Health Watch
March 10,
2015