Healthcare in Greece

When the World Health Organisation last ranked the health systems of the world, healthcare in Greece was rated at number 14. The nation supports a national public health insurance system that gives all residents paying social security, expats included, access to sufficient health care facilities as well as emergency treatment. Options for private insurance and access to private facilities exist as well.

Greece has a highly educated and skilled medical work force from which expats should feel comfortable seeking treatment.

Greek Emergency Number: 166
 

While the social security organisation, IKA, provides health insurance for the population, patient contributions are expected for most primary care visits. Only private healthcare insurance consistently gives full cover, though this is usually used in combination with the IKA schemes.

Those expats holding an EU Health Card will also be provided healthcare, though they may be expected to pay upfront and then claim back from their national health service at a later time.

Medicine costs are subsidised as much as 75%, though this only applies to essential medication. Eye glasses, for instance, are not covered; dental health on the other hand is more or less free.
 
Greece has too few medical facilities and waiting lists are long, though the government is in the process of expanding the system to include more clinics. Still the quality of the care is high and hospitals have good records for hygiene. Facilities on the islands are usually small and transfers to larger mainland hospitals are common.
 

 
It is also important to compliment the coverage of the IKA with a private scheme. Private insurance allows for greater access to specialists and shortens the long wait for non-essential operations.
 
Expats should be cautious, and should do plenty of research prior to choosing a private health insurance in Greece. The insurance is not so well regulated, and there are schemes which terminate when a person reaches a certain age, or dramatically increase premiums.

Most foreign medical plans can be extended to cover a Greek stay, but usually only hospitals in Athens and Thesseloniki are prepares to deal with them.
 

 
Greece also has an interesting institution referred to as SOS doctors. These are doctors who will do house calls, but are not limited to GPs. There are a wide variety of specialists available, and most doctors will visit with a modest array of medicines and an electrocardiogram at their disposal.