Greece

You get direct access to outpatient healthcare services when you book a doctor’s appointment at a PEDY health centre, a rural health centre or a hospital outpatient clinic. The doctor can issue an electronic prescription for the necessary medicines or examinations, or a referral to a specialist. To be treated, you can choose to go to a specialist doctor who has signed a contract with EOPYY, a specialist doctor at an ESY hospital, or a private clinic that has signed a contract with EOPYY.

Ambulatory care in rural and semi-urban areas is mainly provided through a network of PEDY health centres, which are staffed by general practitioners and specialists. In addition, rural surgeries and local health units (TOMY), which are administratively linked to health centres, are staffed by publicly employed doctors.

EOPYY also contracts with private practices, laboratories, diagnostic centres, and other healthcare professionals. Each doctor contracted with EOPYY is limited to 200 patient visits per month, and there is also a monthly ceiling on the total value of the medicines they can prescribe. The latter varies between doctors. If you have a European Health Insurance Card and choose to see a doctor under an EOPYY contract, make sure the doctor has not exceeded these monthly limits. Alternatively, you can choose to pay for the visit yourself.

If you use a European Health Insurance Card, you usually do not have to pay for a visit to an EOPYY-contracted doctor. In come cases, however, a payment is required. For example, fees apply to medical procedures with a statutory co-payment and to services that are not part of the statutory healthcare benefit package. You must also pay for the visit if you choose to see the doctor outside official opening hours and have agreed to a private consulation.

You can search for healthcare professionals who have a contract with EOPYY using the EOPYY search engine (in Greek).

You can usually receive essential dental care free of charge only at PEDY and ESY units, if available. Dentists working in public hospitals mainly provide secondary dental care for patients with complex medical conditions. Dentists working in PEDY health centres provide dental care for children up to 18 years of age and emergency treatment for patients of all ages. There are no private dentists contracted with EOPYY, so if you choose to visit a private dentist, you will have to cover the full cost of your dental care yourself.

If your medical condition requires medication, your Greek physician can issue the necessary e-prescription. You can purchase your medication at any pharmacy, provided that you present your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and the prescription is properly stamped and signed.

E-prescriptions must be dispensed within the time limit indicated in the upper right-hand corner of the prescription (usually within 5 days); otherwise, they will be automatically cancelled. In most cases, a 25% co-payment applies to the cost of the prescribed medication.

The Greek national law stipulates that high-cost medication for chronic diseases is provided free of charge at EOPYY Pharmacies. A list of these medications is available (in Greek) on the EOPYY pharmacies website.

In order for the EOPYY pharmacy to provide medicines free of charge for your chronic illness, you need an electronic prescription from a specialist at an ESY hospital. For some medications, you need prior authorisation from EOPYY. Relevant information and guidance is provided by the physician who issues the prescription. You can also address related questions to the EOPYY Division of Pharmaceuticals by email at: d6(at)eopyy.gov.gr.

In emergencies, you can go directly to the emergency department of a public hospital or to an EOPYY-contracted hospital. Usually, a doctor at the emergency department will issue a referral for hospital treatment.

Present your European health Insurance Card (EHIC) and your ID or passport upon admission.

Hospital treatment is free of charge in ESY hospitals. If you choose to be receive treatment at a private clinic contrcted with EOPYY, you will be required to pay a co-payment of 10-30% of the hospitalization costs, as well as any additional charges that may apply.

If you choose to receive hospital treatment at a private clinic without an EOPYY contract, your EHIC will not cover the costs, and you will have to pay all the expenses yourself.

When emergency ambulance transport is needed, you can call 112 (EU emergency number) or 166 (National Centre for Emergency Care – EKAV) to be taken to a public hospital on duty. Emergency ambulance transport is provided free of charge by EKAV. If the ambulance is provided by a private clinic, you will be responsible for covering the full cost.

Transportation by air ambulance, which falls under the responsibility of EKAV, is free of charge in most cases, such as urgent transfers from an island to the mainland due to a life-threatening health condition.

However, if your illness requires special transport for your return to Finland, you will be responsible for covering the full cost yourself. It is recommended that you take out travel insurance that covers such expenses.

Remember to ensure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your healthcare provider with the patient records related to the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging the translation yourself.

In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country where the treatment was provided will apply. If you are dissatisfied with the treatment you received, you should first try to resolve the matter with the treatment provider. The National Contact Point can help you identify the appropriate authority if you wish to file a complaint.

The Greek national health system provides primary care as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment. Public healthcare providers include PEDY health centres and ESY hospitals. The national health system also includes providers of private healthcare (doctors, clinics, laboratories, dialysis and kidney units) who have a signed contract with EOPYY.