Summary (English)

This paper highlights issues that contribute to persisting inequalities in access to health care of vulnerable groups in the broader European region, including countries of the European Union (EU), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and selected countries of Central Asia. It focusses on key determinants of vulnerability, primarily labour market impacts such as income, employment, and related gaps in access to social protection, and to social health protection in particular. Moreover, it concentrates on stratification of vulnerability looking at specific population groups, including women, the elderly, migrants, and ethnic groups, mainly Roma, who are often disadvantaged in regard with determinants of vulnerability as focused on here. Special attention is also given to rural and urban inequities.

Note

Other ILO Social Security Policy Briefings:

Paper 1. Social Health Protection. An ILO strategy towards universal access to health care

Paper 2. Setting social security standards in a global society. An analysis of present state and practice and of future options for global social security standard setting in the International Labour Organization

Paper 3. Can low-income countries afford basic social security?

Paper 4. Reunión Regional Tripartita sobre el futuro de la protección social en América Latina. Santiago, Chile, 12 al 14 de diciembre de 2007

Paper 5. Interregional Tripartite Meeting on the future of social security in Arab States. Amman, 6-8 May 2008

Paper 6. Asia-Pacific Regional High-level Meeting on socially-inclusive strategies to extend social security coverage. New Delhi, India 19-20 May 2008

Paper 7. Social Security for All. Investing in social justice and economic development