Tuberculosis in Greece: Present Conditions and Future Considerations

¹ Instructor in Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1. Tuberculosis is the most important single health problem in Greece today and is 3 to 5 times more serious now than prewar.

2. It is not epidemic at present but chronic malnutrition, overcrowding, lack of shelter, economic privation and depletion of physical reserve make the threat a grave one.

3. The tuberculosis deaths are well over 35,000 per year and the estimated morbidity 460,000 in a population of 7,300,000. Incidence rates for urban areas are 3 per cent active and 7 per cent inactive lesions; 1 per cent and 3 per cent respectively for rural areas.

4. There is a critical shortage of at least 30,000 tuberculous beds and 30 dispensaries. This shortage can be best met by use of prefabricated buildings.

5. Economic difficulties have caused voluntary organizations to curtail their activities, lose their initiative and to rely more and more on governmental subsidies.

6. Popular prejudice and fear of tuberculosis is considerable and health education is lacking.

7. The well conceived antituberculosis program of prewar Greece has been torn asunder and rendered ineffective by the events of the past five years.

8. Present control activities are directed towards equipping existing sanatoria and dispensaries, opening new ones, elevating standards, introducing mass miniature roentgenography and the formation of a National Tuberculosis Association of Greece.

9. The Greek Government is unable to undertake its financial responsibilities as regards to tuberculosis and must be assisted by outside help.

10. The problem of tuberculosis in Greece is not a local one and must be considered by any new health organization to be set up by the United Nations Organization.