Cost-sharing in the Greek Health Centres: The Administrative Personnel Aspects

Abstract

Cost-sharing was introduced in Greece to supplement the state finance and social insurance funds and make patients cost-conscious. A questionnaire was distributed to 193 administrative personnel (response rate 96 per cent). The research was conducted from June 2011 to May 2012. Statistical analysis was performed using the Pearson x2 test, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the t-test and the Mann-Whitney test at p<0.05 level of significance. 92 per cent of the respondents said that patients complied with the payment of fees and 41.5 per cent that their visits to health centres have been reduced. 64 per cent of health centres do not employ only administrative personnel for the collection of medical fees but also nurses, physicians and technicians. At 85 per cent of health centres information technology systems are not used for the collection of medical fees. Although cost-sharing has contributed to the rational use of health centres’ services, it does not sufficiently corresponds to the expectations for effective provision of health care services.