Greece (GR)

Greece is a southeastern European republic and EU member state, birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Olympic Games, celebrated for its 6,000 sun-drenched islands, ancient ruins from the Acropolis to Delphi, vibrant Mediterranean cuisine, and a warm culture that draws expats, retirees, digital nomads, and Golden Visa investors from across the world.

Capital: Athens

Region: Europe

Language: Greek

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Affordable (index 52)

Emergency: 112

Healthcare in Greece

Greece operates a mixed public-private healthcare system. The public system (ESY — Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας / National Health System) provides universal coverage to all residents enrolled in EOPYY (National Organisation for Healthcare Services Provision). However, the public system suffers from chronic underfunding, long waiting lists, and regional disparities. Most Greeks with the means to do so use the private sector for specialist and elective care. The system has been under reform since the post-crisis period and has been significantly strained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Greece ranked approximately 30th in the EU for healthcare quality in recent assessments. Athens and major cities have well-equipped private hospitals with international standards. Rural areas and small islands have limited infrastructure. Emergency care is available nationally through EKAB (Εθνικό Κέντρο Άμεσης Βοήθειας).

Public healthcare: ESY / EOPYY

National Health System / National Organisation for Healthcare Services Provision

Eligibility:All Greek citizens, EU/EEA residents registered in Greece, and legal non-EU residents who have an AMKA and are registered with EOPYY through employment or as dependants. EU citizens can also use their EHIC for temporary coverage.

Monthly cost:Covered by social contributions: employee contribution ~2.15% of gross salary; employer ~4.30%. For self-employed: included in monthly EFKA flat contribution (€218.80/month total in 2026).

What's included:

GP consultations through the Personal Physician (Προσωπικός Γιατρός) system
Specialist referrals via the e-referral system (after Personal Physician referral)
Hospital inpatient care (public hospitals)
Emergency care (EKAB ambulance, A&E departments)
Maternity care and childbirth
Paediatric care
Pharmaceutical coverage (co-payment applies; most chronic disease medicines heavily subsidised or free)
Mental health services (IKY facilities and EOPYY psychiatry — limited availability)
Preventive care and vaccinations (free national vaccination programme)
Dental care (very limited — only emergency dental extractions in public system)

Not included (or co-pay required):

Elective dental care (fillings, orthodontics, crowns)
Routine dental check-ups beyond emergency extractions
Most cosmetic procedures
Private room upgrades in public hospitals
Non-contracted private specialist care
Most complementary and alternative medicine
Spectacles and contact lenses (partial subsidy for children only)
Long waiting list procedures (may require private care for timely access)

Co-payments:GP visit via Personal Physician: €0–5 co-payment. Specialist via referral: €5 co-payment. Prescriptions: 25% co-payment (reduced to 10% or 0% for chronic conditions, pensioners on low income, and certain diseases). Hospitals: €0 for public inpatient treatment (nominal fees may apply for some services).

How to enrol:Step 1: Obtain your AMKA (social insurance number) from KEP or EFKA. Step 2: If employed, EFKA enrollment is automatic through your employer. Step 3: Register a Personal Physician (Προσωπικός Γιατρός) via the EOPYY portal (eopyy.gov.gr) — mandatory since 2022 to access specialist referrals. Step 4: Receive your EOPYY electronic health card (accessible via gov.gr). Self-employed and pensioners register directly with EFKA.

Waiting period:No formal waiting period for emergency or urgent care. For GP access: register Personal Physician then use the e-booking system. Specialist waiting times: 2–12 weeks in public hospitals depending on specialty and region. For elective surgery in public hospitals: up to 6–18 months in some specialties — most Greeks use private for planned procedures.

Private healthcare: Private Healthcare / Ιδιωτική Υγεία

Who can use it:Available to anyone who can pay (private insurance or out of pocket).

When it makes sense:For specialist appointments without long waits (2–5 days vs 2–12 weeks in public), for elective procedures, for better amenities, when English-speaking doctors are required, or when high-quality diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT) is needed quickly.

Monthly cost:€40–120/month for an individual basic private health insurance plan; €150–400/month for comprehensive family coverage.

Major providers:

Hygeia Hospital Athens (Υγεία)Athens Medical Group (Ιατρικό Αθηνών)Mitera HospitalIaso HospitalMetropolitan HospitalHenry Dunant HospitalEuromedica (Thessaloniki)Interbalkan Medical Centre (Thessaloniki)

Accessing care

GP system

Since 2022, all EOPYY insured persons must register a Personal Physician (Προσωπικός Γιατρός — Γενικός Ιατρός or Παθολόγος) via eopyy.gov.gr. This doctor is your gatekeeper for specialist referrals within the public system. For private care, you can see any doctor directly without registration or referral.

Specialist referral

To see a specialist on the public system, you need a referral from your Personal Physician via the EOPYY e-referral platform (e-appointment.gr). You can book a specialist appointment at public hospitals or EOPYY-contracted private clinics through the same platform. Waiting times vary by specialty and area: 2–12 weeks is typical.

Emergency care

Call 166 (EKAB) for ambulance. All public hospitals have A&E departments (Τμήμα Επειγόντων Περιστατικών — TEP) available 24/7. Emergency care is free for everyone regardless of insurance status. Private hospitals also have emergency departments, usually faster but at cost. For life-threatening emergencies, always call 112 or 166.

Out of hours

Out-of-hours care in Greece is provided by hospital A&E departments — there is no structured out-of-hours GP service equivalent to the UK's NHS 111 or Germany's 116 117. For urgent but non-life-threatening issues: visit the nearest TEP (Τμήμα Επειγόντων). In Athens, some private polyclinics have extended hours. The EKAB line (166) can provide guidance.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions are issued electronically (e-prescription via myhealth.gov.gr since 2013). Your doctor issues the prescription digitally; you collect at any pharmacy using your AMKA or national ID. Co-payment applies (25% standard, lower/zero for chronic conditions). Certain expensive medications require prior approval from EOPYY. Pharmacies can advise on over-the-counter alternatives for minor ailments.

Dental

Public dental care in Greece is very limited (primarily emergency extractions). Routine dental care, fillings, crowns, and orthodontics must be paid privately. Private dental costs: check-up €30–60; filling €50–120; tooth extraction €50–100; root canal €150–350; crown €300–700; orthodontic braces €2,000–5,000. Some private health insurance plans include limited dental. Dental tourism is common — Greeks often travel to Thessaloniki or Eastern Europe for better-priced dental treatment.

Mental health

Public mental health services are limited and underfunded. EOPYY funds a limited number of mental health sessions with contracted psychologists/psychiatrists. Waiting times are long. Private psychotherapy: €50–100/session (Athens). Online therapy platforms are growing. Crisis lines: 10306 (EPAPSY mental health helpline, weekdays) and 1018 (SOS Life 24/7 crisis line).

Maternity

Maternity care is covered by EOPYY for insured women: prenatal check-ups, tests, ultrasounds (with co-payments), and delivery in a public hospital (free). Most Greek women choose private clinics for delivery due to comfort and shorter waiting times. Private delivery: €2,000–5,000 (semi-private room). Midwife-led births are rare in Greece — the obstetrician-led model dominates. Caesarean section rate is one of the highest in the EU (~60%).

Expat-specific advice

First steps on arrival:

Obtain your AMKA as a priority — without it, you cannot access any part of the Greek health system.
Register a Personal Physician (Προσωπικός Γιατρός) via eopyy.gov.gr as soon as your AMKA and EOPYY enrollment are active.
Consider private health insurance for faster specialist access and better facilities — essential for most expat families.
Locate the nearest public hospital (Νοσοκομείο) and pharmacy to your home before you need them.
If you have chronic conditions, bring a supply of medication with generic names (not just brand names) and a letter from your home-country doctor in English (and translated to Greek if possible).

Finding English-speaking doctors:English-speaking doctors are widely available in Athens, especially in private hospitals and clinics in tourist areas. Major private hospitals (Hygeia, Athens Medical Group, Mitera) have international patient departments with English-speaking staff. For public system doctors, English proficiency varies. The Doctoranytime.gr platform allows you to filter for English-speaking doctors.

International insurance:International health insurance (Cigna, Allianz Care, AXA PPP, Foyer Global Health) is an excellent option for expats in Greece, particularly for those not covered by EOPYY or who want the flexibility to use private care without out-of-pocket expense. These plans typically provide evacuation coverage and worldwide coverage for trips home.

Emergency card info:EU/EEA citizens should carry their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC for UK residents). This entitles you to emergency and medically necessary healthcare at public facilities on the same terms as Greek citizens. EHIC does not cover private healthcare costs or planned elective treatment.

EHIC notes:The EHIC is accepted at all Greek public hospitals and EOPYY-contracted facilities. Present it alongside your identity document. It is best used for unexpected illness or injury while temporarily in Greece — for long-term residents, enrolling in EOPYY is the correct route.

Pharmacies (Φαρμακείο (Farmakeio))

Hours:Standard hours: Mon/Wed/Sat 08:00–14:00; Tue/Thu/Fri 08:00–14:00 and 17:30–21:00 (closed Sunday). However, every neighbourhood has a duty pharmacy (εφημερεύον φαρμακείο) open 24 hours on rotation. The duty pharmacy schedule (εφημερεύοντα φαρμακεία) is posted on every pharmacy door and on efarmakeio.gr.

After-hours / emergency:Duty pharmacy (εφημερεύον φαρμακείο) system ensures 24/7 coverage in all areas. Search at efarmakeio.gr or call 1434 for the nearest duty pharmacy.

Prescription rules:Prescriptions are electronic (e-prescription). Dispensed using your AMKA + national ID. No printed prescription needed. Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are more freely available in Greece than in some Northern European countries — pharmacists are knowledgeable and can advise. Pharmacists can dispense some antibiotics and medications that require prescription in other countries — ask politely.

Available over-the-counter:

Paracetamol (Depon, Algostase)
Ibuprofen (Brufen, Nurofen)
Antihistamines (Claritine, Zyrtec)
Antifungal creams
Oral rehydration salts (Peraloid)
Sun protection products
Insect repellents (essential in summer)
Basic wound care (bandages, antiseptic)
Vitamin and mineral supplements

Typical costs

GP visit (with insurance)	€0–5 (EOPYY co-payment)
GP visit (private pay)	€50–100 (private)
Specialist visit	€5 (EOPYY, via referral) / €80–150 (private)
Emergency visit	€0 (public A&E) / €100–500 (private emergency)
MRI scan	€150–350 (private) / €0–50 (public, long wait)
Prescription average	€5–25 (co-payment) per prescription
Dental check-up	€30–60 (private)
Baby delivery	€0 (public hospital) / €2,000–5,000 (private clinic)

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