Greece – Health Service

What is the standard of healthcare in Greece?

Greeks rank among the healthiest populations worldwide, with life expectancy figures that sit comfortably within the upper range for EU countries — 79 years for men and 84 for women. The country also boasts as many as 4.9 practising physicians per 1,000 residents, a ratio that compares well with many other European nations and reflects both a highly trained medical workforce and the well-documented health benefits associated with a Mediterranean way of life.

Quality of treatment and the availability of facilities are generally satisfactory on the mainland, but can be considerably more limited across the islands. Advanced and specialised medical services are concentrated in the major urban centres of Athens and Thessaloniki, which means that residents of smaller islands or rural communities requiring complex care may need to be transferred to these cities. For anyone deliberating over where to settle in Greece, this geographic disparity is one of the most practically significant factors to weigh up.

The public system faces real pressures — extended waiting times and uneven service levels across different regions are well-documented concerns — yet it continues to deliver core medical services to the population. Private facilities, by contrast, are widely regarded as offering superior standards to their public counterparts, benefiting from more up-to-date equipment and considerably shorter waiting periods. This has led a large proportion of residents, both Greek nationals and foreigners, to turn to the private sector for routine and primary care.

The nurse-to-population ratio stands at just 3.8 per 1,000 people, far below the OECD average of 8.6. This shortfall has a tangible effect on the level of bedside care available in public hospitals and represents a recognised structural weakness within the system. For authoritative assessments of healthcare quality in Greece, the WHO Greece country profile and the Greek Ministry of Health are reliable reference points.

How is healthcare funded in Greece, and is private health insurance necessary?

The National Health System (ESY) draws its funding from the state budget, which is sustained by both direct and indirect taxation alongside social insurance contributions. Through this mechanism, it delivers emergency pre-hospital, primary and ambulatory, and inpatient services via rural surgeries, local health units (TOMYs), health centres, and public hospitals. Structurally, the Greek model is a hybrid — it combines elements of a Beveridge-style tax-financed national health service with a Bismarck-style social insurance framework, underpinned by a substantial out-of-pocket private market.

Funding flows from three main sources: compulsory social insurance — accounting for roughly one-third of total spending — channelled through the unified sickness fund EOPYY; state subsidies contributing a further third; and voluntary private insurance combined with direct patient payments, including co-payments, which together account for more than a third. Even patients with full public insurance cover therefore find themselves paying for certain services out of their own pockets.

EFKA — the National Social Security Fund — is the state-managed social security institution in Greece and provides mandatory coverage to all citizens and permanent residents. Employees in the private sector contribute 14.12% of their gross salary in social security payments as of 2025, with employers also making contributions on their behalf. Expats employed in Greece who hold an AMKA number do not need to arrange their own EFKA payments, as these are handled directly by their employer.

Out-of-pocket expenditure remains high at approximately 35% of total health spending, driven largely by limited public coverage of pharmaceuticals and dental care. The WHO’s Global Monitoring Report on Financial Protection in Health 2021 found that around 17% of the Greek population spends more than 10% of household income on direct healthcare costs.

Supplementary private insurance is strongly encouraged for expats. Both domestic and international insurers offer tailored plans that include coverage for treatment received while travelling, management of pre-existing conditions, and emergency medical evacuation. For many expats seeking predictable and timely access to good-quality care, private insurance is in practice a necessity rather than a luxury. Always confirm current contribution thresholds and eligibility rules directly with e-EFKA and EOPYY.

How do I register with a doctor or access primary care in Greece?

Primary care within ESY is delivered through a network of rural surgeries, local health units (TOMYs), health centres, and public hospitals, as well as through EOPYY-contracted private practitioners. In contrast to systems such as the NHS in the United Kingdom, where GP registration acts as a formal gateway to secondary care, Greece’s primary care gatekeeping arrangements have historically been only loosely enforced in practice.

Although legislation has repeatedly provided for a “first-contact physician” framework aimed at strengthening the coordination and management of patient health needs, full implementation has remained elusive, partly owing to administrative shortcomings and fragmented support for the primary care infrastructure. As a result, many patients approach specialists or hospital outpatient departments directly, without any GP referral.

The essential first step for any expat wishing to access public primary care is obtaining an AMKA (social security number). The process works as follows:

1. Obtain your AMKA: To access EFKA coverage, expats should receive a social security number known as AMKA, which can be obtained at one of the KEP citizen service centres in their municipality. You can schedule an appointment online via gov.gr.
2. Gather your documents: EU citizens should bring a valid ID or passport; non-EU citizens should bring an expatriate ID or foreign passport; and for children under 12, a family status certificate and birth certificate are needed.
3. Activate your AMKA: From April 2024, a new procedure was introduced for issuing and activating AMKA numbers. Under this system, the AMKA is issued in a deactivated state and is only made active once the holder submits the necessary supporting documents to the relevant AMKA service.
4. Register with EOPYY: Accessing public health insurance in Greece requires completing the relevant registration forms and navigating a degree of administrative procedure, including enrolment with EOPYY and obtaining your AMKA.
5. Choose a personal doctor: Insured individuals may select a family doctor and can also book appointments with private practitioners who hold EOPYY contracts.
6. Access care: EOPYY-contracted specialists who have not yet reached the monthly cap of 200 free consultations will see insured patients at no charge.

Additional out-of-pocket costs are common in primary care. Despite successive efforts since 2011 to introduce a diagnosis-related group (DRG) reimbursement framework for hospitals, the system has yet to be fully operational. Always verify current registration requirements and costs directly with EOPYY or your local KEP centre, as administrative procedures remain subject to change.

What services do hospitals in Greece provide, and what should patients expect?

Universal healthcare coverage in Greece is delivered through ESY, encompassing approximately 238 public hospitals that serve a national population of around 11 million. The private sector plays a major role in the country’s healthcare landscape, accounting for roughly 45% of Greece’s 283 hospitals as of 2024, though public institutions hold two-thirds of all hospital beds.

Private facilities — including well-known names such as Hygeia, MITERA, and Metropolitan — are equipped to a high standard, and many of their consultants hold contracts with social insurers through EOPYY or with private insurance providers. Private hospitals are generally recognised for offering more advanced diagnostic capability and significantly faster turnaround times than public equivalents.

In an emergency, patients may go directly either to a public ESY hospital on duty or to a private hospital holding a contract with the National Health Service. Treatment at public hospitals is provided free of charge. In most non-emergency situations, a physician referral will be required for inpatient admission. If you attend a private hospital that has no EOPYY contract, responsibility for the full cost of care falls on the patient.

One cultural aspect of hospital life in Greece that expats should be aware of is the prominent role played by the patient’s family during admission. In Greek public hospitals, it is a deeply embedded tradition — and in many cases a practical reality — for family members to be present at the bedside, assisting with personal care, meals, and general comfort. This differs considerably from the model in countries such as the UK, Australia, or the Netherlands, where nursing staff are expected to manage virtually all patient care. Given the lower nurse-to-patient ratio in Greek public hospitals, family involvement is not only culturally expected but often genuinely necessary. Expats without family or a support network nearby should take this into account when planning for hospital care, and may find private hospitals offer a more self-contained experience.

English is frequently spoken in hospitals in large cities, though language support may be limited in smaller towns and rural areas. In major private urban facilities, staff tend to have strong English-language skills, which can make communication considerably more straightforward for patients who are not yet comfortable in Greek.

How does follow-up and aftercare work in Greece?

Post-discharge aftercare is an area where the structural limitations of the Greek system are most evident. Follow-up care is generally handled through outpatient departments at the treating hospital, through referrals to EOPYY-contracted specialists, or via a patient’s registered personal doctor. However, the relatively underdeveloped gatekeeping and care coordination infrastructure means this pathway is not always clearly signposted or consistently followed.

The shortage of general practitioners in Greece prompted a legislative change in 2024 intended to expand both the number and the role of personal doctors, permitting physicians without a specialty qualification or postgraduate training to practise in this function. That said, managing patients with multiple complex conditions is unlikely to be handled effectively by personal doctors working alone in isolated practices. Patients with ongoing or complicated health needs should be prepared to take an active role in coordinating their own care across different providers.

EOPYY does provide partial funding for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy under certain conditions, offering some community-based rehabilitation support. However, the scope of publicly funded rehabilitation is narrower than in countries like Germany or France, where post-acute rehabilitation pathways are more formally structured within the statutory health system.

Community nursing in the public sector is limited, and home-care provision is less well developed than in many northern and western European countries. Expats managing chronic conditions, convalescing after surgery, or supporting elderly dependants should seriously consider arranging supplementary private care to cover gaps in follow-up services. Independent nursing agencies and outpatient physiotherapy clinics are widely available in urban areas and can be accessed either directly or via a private insurer.

What are the rules on medical treatment for foreign visitors and new arrivals in Greece?

Emergency care is accessible to everyone in Greece, including tourists and new arrivals regardless of their insurance status or nationality. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency can present at a public ESY hospital and receive stabilising treatment as a baseline right — this entitlement does not depend on prior registration or contribution history.

Outside of emergency situations, patients holding a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can consult a doctor within the public healthcare system — including health centres and ESY hospital outpatient services — or a private practitioner with an NHS contract through EOPYY, free of charge. The EHIC is recognised across all EU member states; however, it does not extend to the costs of private healthcare that falls outside the EOPYY-contracted network.

EOPYY-contracted private doctors are capped at 200 free consultations per month for EHIC holders. Once this ceiling has been reached, patients will be required to cover the consultation fee themselves. It is therefore advisable to check in advance whether a particular doctor still has capacity for EHIC-covered appointments. EHIC holders should present their card together with a valid identity document at the point of admission or consultation.

Certain UK citizens residing in Greece who receive a UK state pension may be entitled to access specific public healthcare services by completing an S1 form. This arrangement derives from the post-Brexit withdrawal agreement, though the exact conditions and eligibility criteria may change over time. Always confirm current entitlements through official sources — the Greek Ministry of Health, the EOPYY Cross-Border Healthcare portal, or your own country’s social security authority.

Nationals of countries outside the EU should investigate whether a reciprocal healthcare agreement exists between their home country and Greece. The scope and terms of such agreements vary considerably and may be subject to change; never assume coverage applies without verifying the current position. Non-EU nationals who have not yet registered in the Greek system and do not hold applicable insurance should anticipate paying privately for any non-emergency treatment they receive.

What are the most important health insurance options for expats in Greece?

For expats in Greece, the most suitable health insurance is typically a private international health plan that satisfies the requirements of the Schengen area. Greece is one of 27 Schengen member states and requires expats and visitors to produce evidence of valid insurance when applying for a visa. Having a clear understanding of your options from the outset helps to prevent coverage gaps and potential complications with visa applications.

The primary insurance routes open to expats in Greece are as follows:

• Public social insurance via EFKA/EOPYY: Expats who hold an AMKA and contribute to public insurance through EFKA — the principal social security fund covering employees and the self-employed in Greece — are entitled to use public healthcare services. This forms the foundation of health coverage for working residents and encompasses primary care, specialist consultations, hospitalisation, and partial prescription costs.
• Voluntary Health Insurance (VHI): Compulsory social insurance accounts for approximately one-third of total healthcare expenditure, with supplementary voluntary health insurance available as an additional layer for those seeking quicker access or services not fully provided under EOPYY. This type of policy, often sold by commercial insurers, broadly duplicates public benefits and is held by an estimated 10–15% of the resident population.
• International Private Health Insurance: Many expats opt for international health insurance in Greece, which typically offers access to private hospitals, reduced waiting times, and coverage that extends across borders. This option is particularly well suited to those who divide their time between Greece and other countries, or who have complex ongoing medical requirements.
• Employer-provided cover: Certain multinational employers extend group health plans to staff that include private medical cover in Greece. Always confirm the specific scope and territorial limits of any employer scheme before treating it as your sole source of coverage.

When comparing policies, expats should look for: comprehensive inpatient and outpatient cover at both public and private facilities; coverage for pre-existing conditions (note that many plans exclude these — always read the policy schedule carefully); emergency evacuation and repatriation; and dental cover, since EOPYY does not hold contracts with private dentists, meaning that any private dental consultation will need to be funded entirely out of pocket.

Private insurance companies operating in Greece are supervised by the Bank of Greece. Always confirm that your insurer is authorised to operate in the country. Review current policy terms and premium levels directly with your chosen provider, as these are subject to regular revision. Self-employed residents should note that minimum EFKA contributions for the lowest contribution band were approximately €254.65 per month as of 2025 — verify current rates with e-EFKA before making financial plans.

Are there any particular health risks or considerations for people moving to Greece?

Greece is in most respects a safe and healthy country to live in, with its Mediterranean climate, access to high-quality fresh produce, and strong familial and social networks all contributing positively to quality of life and general wellbeing. Nevertheless, there are a number of health-related factors that are worth bearing in mind before making the move.

Vaccinations: No vaccinations are a legal requirement for entry into Greece, but standard European travel health guidance applies. This generally includes ensuring that routine immunisations are current — covering measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, and polio — along with hepatitis A and B for those with occupational or lifestyle risk factors. The CDC provides information on vaccinations recommended before travelling to Greece. It is advisable to consult your national travel health service for personalised guidance ahead of your relocation.

Climate and environment: Greece’s hot, arid summers carry a genuine risk of heat-related illness, particularly for elderly individuals, young children, and those with pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory conditions. Dehydration and sunstroke are frequently encountered problems during the summer season. Air quality in central Athens can deteriorate significantly due to traffic emissions and seasonal smog — locally referred to as “nefos” — which may pose difficulties for people with asthma or chronic lung conditions.

Food and water safety: Tap water is generally considered safe to drink across mainland urban areas, though many island residents choose bottled water due to variability in local supply quality. EU food safety standards apply throughout Greece, which means the risk of foodborne illness in established restaurants and supermarkets is broadly comparable to the rest of Europe.

Mental health: Public sector mental health provision in Greece is more limited than in many comparable European countries, with fewer community mental health teams and a greater reliance on hospital-based psychiatric services. Expats facing mental health challenges may find the private sector more accessible, especially in cities. Private therapists and psychologists in Athens and Thessaloniki are increasingly offering sessions in English and other languages.

West Nile Virus: Seasonal outbreaks of West Nile Virus, spread through mosquito bites, have been recorded in parts of Greece in recent years, particularly in northern regions during the warmer months. Using insect repellent and wearing appropriate protective clothing during the peak mosquito season is recommended. For the most up-to-date guidance on health risks in Greece, consult the WHO Greece country profile and your national travel health advisory service both before and after your move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can expats use the public health system in Greece?

The Greek Healthcare System (ESY) extends free healthcare to all citizens and residents of Greece. As an expat, you are entitled to access public medical care — whether you hold EU citizenship or are unemployed — provided you have a valid AMKA and have been making the required contributions to EFKA. Those who have not completed registration or who are not contributing to the system will generally be expected to cover the cost of non-emergency treatment themselves. Verify current eligibility requirements at EOPYY or e-EFKA.

How do I find a doctor who speaks my language in Greece?

English is widely spoken in hospitals in major cities, though language support tends to be more limited in smaller towns and rural settings. Private hospitals and clinics in urban areas are particularly likely to have medical and nursing staff who are fluent in English. The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) maintains a list of healthcare providers in Greece where English-speaking staff are available, which can be a useful starting point for non-UK residents as well. Your embassy or consulate may also keep a directory of multilingual practitioners working in your area.

What happens in a medical emergency in Greece?

The Hellenic National Centre for Emergency Care (EKAB/EKAV) coordinates emergency medical services and operates ground and air ambulance provision across a number of islands. Dial 166 to call an ambulance in Greece. In an emergency, you may proceed directly to a public ESY hospital on duty or to a private hospital contracted with the National Health Service. Emergency treatment will be provided regardless of insurance status, though having your AMKA, EHIC, or private insurance documents available will help avoid billing complications after the event.

How do prescriptions work in Greece?

Prescriptions in Greece are issued electronically by registered doctors through the national e-prescription system and can be dispensed at any pharmacy (farmakeio). Patients insured through EOPYY benefit from a co-payment subsidy on most prescription drugs, paying only a percentage of the total cost rather than the full amount. Patients without insurance cover must pay the full retail price for their medications. When relocating to Greece, it is advisable to bring documentation of any ongoing prescriptions, as the trade names of medications in Greece may differ from those used in your home country.

Are pre-existing conditions covered under the Greek public system?

The public ESY system does not apply the pre-existing condition exclusions that are commonly found in private insurance contracts. Once you are registered with EFKA and EOPYY and are actively making contributions, your existing health conditions should fall within the scope of your standard public insurance entitlement. Private insurance products in Greece, as elsewhere, may exclude pre-existing conditions outright or impose a waiting period before coverage applies. Always read policy documents thoroughly and disclose all conditions honestly to your insurer. Current public coverage terms can be confirmed at EOPYY.

Is dental care covered by the public health system in Greece?

EOPYY does not hold contracts with private dentists, which means that any treatment obtained from a private dental practice will need to be paid for in full by the patient. A limited range of dental services is available through public health centres, but the scope of this provision is narrow. The majority of residents — Greek nationals and expats alike — fund their dental care privately or through supplementary private insurance. Budgeting for out-of-pocket dental expenditure is therefore an important part of planning your overall healthcare costs in Greece.

What healthcare cover do I need for a Greek visa application?

Proof of valid medical insurance is a requirement for almost all Greek visa applications and forms part of the registration process for residents intending to stay for more than three months. Insurance must be purchased prior to submitting your visa application so that documentation can be provided. Policies must typically provide a minimum of €30,000 in coverage for emergency treatment, hospitalisation, and repatriation, in line with Schengen area requirements. Confirm the exact insurance conditions applicable to your specific visa category with the nearest Greek embassy or consulate before you apply.

How does the EHIC work for visitors to Greece from EU countries?

An EU citizen carrying a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is entitled to access medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary visit to Greece. The EHIC generally covers most medical treatment, including free consultations and some dental procedures, but does not extend to repatriation costs or purely non-urgent care. Importantly, the EHIC provides no cover for private healthcare costs outside the EOPYY-contracted network. The EHIC is designed for temporary stays rather than permanent residence; if you are relocating to Greece rather than visiting, you will need to register through EFKA and obtain an AMKA to secure ongoing entitlement. Current EHIC terms can be reviewed via the EOPYY EU Healthcare portal.