Evaluation of the living conditions and access to healthcare services for patients with Hepatitis C – Intravenous Drug Users

A study was conducted with the focus: “Evaluation of the Living Conditions and Access to Healthcare Services for Patients with Hepatitis C – Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs)” from January to June 2017, with 311 participants involved.

Τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης αξιοποιήθηκαν ως προς την υποστήριξη των αρμόδιων φορέων κατά τη λήψη αποφάσεων και κατά τον A study was conducted with the focus: “Evaluation of the Living Conditions and Access to Healthcare Services for Patients with Hepatitis C – Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs)” from January to June 2017, with 311 participants involved.

The results of the study were utilized for:

1. Supporting relevant authorities in decision-making and designing corrective actions aimed at improving the lives of patients.
   
   
2. Strengthening patient participation in decisions related to healthcare, as a measure for rationalizing the functioning of the system and addressing the disease.

Specifically, among the 311 participants:

• 54% were enrolled in substitution programs (OKANA) and 44% in rehabilitation programs (KETHEA).
• 51.5% of the sample were not employed at the time.
• 80% reported a monthly income of up to 500 euros.
• 45.5% had no insurance coverage.
• The majority of the sample (64%) did not know the stage of their liver damage, with 48.4% of patients reporting they were not being monitored by a doctor for Hepatitis C at the time.
• 26% of participants reported having a co-infection with HIV and 21% with Hepatitis B.
• 38% reported facing barriers to accessing a doctor.
• A high percentage of participants (43.8%) faced barriers to accessing treatment for Hepatitis C, and 71.4% of this group reported that they lost or delayed receiving their treatment compared to the recommendations of their treating physician.

It was found that the living conditions of participants were particularly difficult, with 46.3% struggling to pay bills and 63.8% cutting back on essential expenses due to the crisis. Trust in political institutions was described as almost nonexistent (69.7%), while the Healthcare System was evaluated by participants as average (27%).

The study was conducted by Prometheus, in collaboration with a working group under the scientific responsibility of Associate Professor of Health Policy at the University of the Peloponnese, Mr. Kyriakos Souliotis.

Allies in this research initiative included:

• The Organization Against Drugs (OKANA).
• The Center for Treatment of Addicted Individuals (KETHEA).