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Access Compromised? The Impact of Healthcare Reforms under Austerity in Lithuania and Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2020

Sigita Doblytė  and
Ana M. Guillén
Sigita Doblytė
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain E-mail: doblytesigita@uniovi.es
Ana M. Guillén
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain E-mail: aguillen@uniovi.es
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Abstract

Using an interpretative comparison in search for cross-case similarities and differences, we examine the evolution of equity of access to healthcare during the economic crisis in two potentially vulnerable Eastern and Southern European countries – Lithuania and Spain. While the type of healthcare system may have shown higher resilience, i.e. equity of access to care during the crisis should have been affected more in Lithuania – a relatively immature health insurance system – than in Spain – a consolidated national health service, the intensity and length of the crisis and types of adjustment measures undertaken may have led, in turn, to different results in terms of equity of access. The analysis focuses on the respective institutional designs and healthcare reforms under austerity as well as subjective and objective indicators of access to care. We conclude that the Lithuanian healthcare system, despite potential comparative disadvantage, has shown greater performance than the Spanish one during the crisis.

Keywords

Access to healthcarecrisissubjective/objective indicatorsLithuaniaSpain
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , October 2020 , pp. 521 - 537
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2020

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