Health and access to healthcare in Europe however, are strongly determined by socioeconomic status, which puts the most socially disadvantaged groups in an unequal position. Access to health services can be significantly restricted or conditional, and the types of services provided may be inappropriate for some social groups. This situation is only worsening with the economic crisis where governments continue to make cutbacks on public health services and welfare in order to relieve pressure on growing debt burdens. According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), the right to health means that governments must generate conditions in which everyone can be as healthy as possible. Such conditions range from ensuring availability of health services, healthy and safe working conditions and nutritious food. It is important to note that the right to health has been enshrined in international and regional human rights treaties as well as national constitutions all over the world. Nevertheless, this right has not been (and is still not being) respected by many of the members states.

Less affordable and accessible health services will inevitably mean increased inequalities across the continent. In response to the failure of some governments to cater to its peoples’ needs, certain initiatives have arisen that are making use of existing resources (i.e. medical, human, knowledge/skills, etc.). In Greece for example, a “Robin Hood” network of doctors created an underground movement providing free medical assistance to the unemployed and poorer civilians with no social security or with very little income. Much of the medicines used are donated.

Policies that enable more equal access to healthcare services

• Direct assumption of medical expenses for those with few resources (Luxembourg)
• Abolishment of co-payments for persons of low-income (Spain)
• Implementation of a maximum health bill and extension of the third party payer system for low-income households to tackle the barrier of pre-financing medical fees (Belgium, Luxembourg)
• An agreementon cooperation between the Region and the third sector in the Skåne region (Sweden)

''The above bill by Sweden is particularly interesting since it illustrates the principle that in many members states the third sector and non-profit social service providers are public authorities’ partners that contribute to the definition, planning, implementation and evaluation of social policies and services. The parties involved in the cooperation agreement in Skåne see a particular value in the non-profit-distributing types of activities represented by non profit organisations. They clearly affirm that the aim of the agreement is not to reduce costs of social policies and services, but to contribute to opening up possibilities for ventures leading to increased participation and reduced isolation of the people living in that region. The Region commits to foresee adequate resources in the budget to support for coordination and development work of the non profit organisations involved in the agreement. Areas of cooperation include social enterprises, volunteering, public health, welfare development, culture. One of the objectives of the Region is to explore possibilities for other forms of operation through changed procurement procedure.