Access to treatment for Hepatitis C among injection drug users: results from the cross-sectional HOPE IV study.

Background: Evidence suggests that Greece is among the European countries with increased trend in HCV prevalence among injecting drug users (IDUs) from 2008 to 2014. Nonetheless, the access of IDUs to treatment for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is very limited while the risk of co-infection and transmission remains high. In an effort to better understand the inhibitors to HCV treatment, the present study aimed to investigate the main barriers to access in a sample of IDUs.

Using Big Data to Assess Prescribing Patterns in Greece: The Case of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the top leading causes of death and disability, and its management is focused on reducing risk factors, relieving symptoms, and preventing exacerbations. The study aim was to describe COPD prescribing patterns in Greece by using existing health administrative data for outpatients.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study based on prescriptions collected by the largest social insurance fund, during the first and last trimester of 2012.

A cost and clinical effectiveness analysis among moist wound healing dressings versus traditional methods in home care patients with pressure ulcers.

The aim of the study was a cost and clinical effectiveness analysis between moist wound healing dressings and gauze in a homecare set up for the treatment of stage III and IV pressure ulcers up to complete healing. In addition, we assessed the overall economic burden on the Healthcare System. Treatment method for each patient was chosen randomly by using sealed opaque envelopes.

Estimating the Fiscal Effects of Public Pharmaceutical Expenditure Reduction in Greece.

The purpose of the present study is to estimate the impact of pharmaceutical spending reduction on public revenue, based on data from the national health accounts as well as on reports of Greece's organizations. The methodology of the analysis is structured in two basic parts. The first part presents the urgency for rapid cutbacks on public pharmaceutical costs due to the financial crisis and provides a conceptual framework for the contribution of the Greek pharmaceutical branch to the country's economy.

Access to Care for Multiple Sclerosis in Times of Economic Crisis in Greece--the HOPE II Study.

Background: While there is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment with biologic disease-modifying drugs (bDMDs) can reduce the impact of the condition on the lives of patients. In Greece, the regulatory change in the distribution system of bDMDs, limited their administration through the designated pharmacies of the National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) or the National Health System (ESY) hospitals, thus potentially impacting access to MS treatment. In this context, the aim of this paper was to assess the barriers to bDMDs, by recording MS patients' experiences.

Cardiac echo-lab productivity in times of economic austerity.

The present study attempts to offer insight into the volume, cost, and productivity of the operation of a cardiac echocardiographic laboratory (echo-lab) in a major public hospital of Greece and thus to contribute, on a practical level, to the widening of knowledge in the strategic field of secondary and tertiary healthcare management. The conducted research includes the basic step of the deployment of a primary data registry in the echo-lab and unfolds in three levels, i.e.

Barriers to accessing biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Greece: the unseen impact of the fiscal crisis--the Health Outcomes Patient Environment (HOPE) study.

The latest regulatory change in the distribution system of biologic disease-modifying, antirheumatic drugs limited their sale only through the designated pharmacies of the National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) or the National Health System (NHS) hospitals, adding to the complexity of access to effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Greece. The aim of this paper was to assess the barriers to access RA treatment, by recording patients', rheumatologists' and EOPYY pharmacists' experiences. One twenty-three patients, 12 rheumatologists and 27 pharmacists from Athens and other urban areas in Greece participated in the study.

Transforming Public Servants' Health Care Organization in Greece through the Implementation of an Electronic Referral Project.

Objective: The Greek Public Servants' Health Care Organization aiming to organize, monitor, and enhance the health care services provided to 1,500,000 public servants decided to respond to the national alert of the economic crisis through the reduction of costs caused by diagnostic tests (€300,000,000 claims for 2008), to improve working conditions of contracted physicians and laboratories, and to enhance services provided to insured members. In September 2010, the Greek Public Servants' Health Care Organization initiated a pilot project that electronically records the prescription process of the diagnostic tests, which is Web-based, is open source, and was provided for free to the contracted physicians and diagnostic centers.

Methods: In this article, we present some interesting findings resulting from the implementation of the pilot electronic referral project by examining a 9-month period.

Economic evaluation of a vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in older adults in Switzerland.

Background: A life-attenuated vaccine aimed at preventing herpes zoster (HZ) and its main complication, post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), will soon be available in Europe. The study's objective was to assess the clinical and economic impact of a vaccination program for adults aged 70-79 years in Switzerland.

Results: A vaccination strategy compared to a no-vaccination resulted in lifetime incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of 25,538 CHF (23,646 USD) per QALY gained, 6,625 CHF (6,134 USD) per HZ case avoided, and 15,487 CHF (14,340 USD) per PHN3 case avoided under the third-party payer perspective.