This was the title of my presentation at the European Health Economics Conference in Zurich. My complete presentation is available here (as promised in the room I am making it available).

A couple of highlights from the session, which included the same sort of review of Ireland (Steve Thomas) and Greece (John Yfantopoulos), and a final sum up by Matt Jowett:

– feeling that in all 3 countries the point not being feasible to cut more health expenditure without hurting health and health care provided in a significant way

– the importance of good governance – contrasting the weak commitment from Greek Government with full ownership of adjustment from the Portuguese Government (some question “too much of it?”) with possible opportunity for universal health insurance in Ireland as stakeholders are less opposing.

– no “silver bullet” emerged to get the health sector immune to the economic crisis.