Table 1 Pathways through which neoliberal reforms affect disabled people’s access to healthcare services
From: The effects of neoliberal policies on access to healthcare for people with disabilities
Pathway | Examples | Effects for disabled people |
|---|---|---|
Policies directly targeting healthcare | Budget cuts in the health sector; increased co-payments; reduced staff; increased privatisation. | Exclusion from services because of cost; higher unmet needs because of high waiting times and lack of staff; higher mortality and morbidity due to deterioration of healthcare services. |
Policies indirectly targeting healthcare | Austerity reforms in the broader public sector, leading to hiring freezes; capital controls. | Higher unmet needs because of high waiting times; shortages in medications. |
Policies affecting socioeconomic determinants, directly targeting disabled people | Changes in the benefits system; association of state pension with disability level. | Higher rates of poverty; less protection against poverty, unemployment, and healthcare risks; social exclusion. |
Policies affecting socioeconomic determinants, indirectly targeting disabled people | Austerity-driven financial policies leading to an increase in unemployment and poverty; reduced labour costs. | Higher rates of poverty; less protection against poverty, unemployment, and healthcare risks; social exclusion; increased prevalence of mental illness. |