You are here: Forum > Living in Europe > Greece > Health care > Healthcare in Greece
  Register and reply  

Healthcare in Greece


#1  2012-05-16 15:03:14

Julien
Founder
Julien
From: Grand Baie
Registered: 2005-03-11
Posts: 27477

Healthcare in Greece

Hi,

how does the healthcare system works in Greece ? Is it efficient ?

What are the main differences between public and private sectors?

Is it recommended to purchase private health insurance in Greece?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience !

Julien




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
  • Offline

#2  2012-05-22 17:35:02

Symi Dream
Member
Symi Dream
From: Simi
Registered: 2010-06-07
Posts: 10

Re: Healthcare in Greece

I can only speak for my own experience but I have always found it very good. I have been in the IKA system for several years now and my partner and I have had experience of both public and private doctors.

We’re on Symi and have used local doctors, private doctors in Rhodes and Rhodes hospital and, dare I say it, compared to previous experiences with UK hospitals and the NHS, many things are better here. (Example: A friend here needed a hernia op and was able to book in to the hospital the next day, while in the UK my 85 year old godfather had to wait two years in his area.)

Other friends have had private health insurance and found that they had to pay out and then claim back later, and the insurance didn’t cover everything. It depends on your company I expect, but I don’t have direct experience of private insurance.

When using a private doctor I found I was able to call in, or phone, make an immediate appointment, refer myself as it were. Ok, you have to pay, but I, for example, have had consultations, scans and examinations lasting 45 minutes, and for only €50 to €70. Other treatments are probably more expensive I guess, again it depends. But I also found that the doctors speak English which is a help if you don’t speak ‘medical’ Greek, and all private Drs I've been to have given out receipts!

I also find that if you have to pay for prescriptions or medicine it can be really expensive, but if you are in a scheme like IKA (or one of the others) then the price is much less. To be in one of the government schemes you have to be working, or self employed – and there may be other ways around this that I don’t know about. And of course, at the moment things may not be as rosy as they were last time we needed the Greek health service. But I for one would rather be in it than out of it.

James




 
 
 

  • Offline

#3  2012-05-23 09:03:50

Harmonie
ViP
Harmonie
From: Mauritius/Ile Maurice
Registered: 2011-06-13
Posts: 19273

Re: Healthcare in Greece

one




 

  • Offline
Like this topic? Share it with your friends!


Expatriate health insurance Greece

Free advice and quotation service to choose an expat health insurance in Greece.
>> Click here

Moving to Greece

A few tips from professionals about moving to Greece.
>> Click here

Expat banking Greece

Discover the benefits of expat banking for people living and working abroad.
>> Click here

Businesses and services in Greece

Find the professionals in Greece in the Expat blog directory.
>> Click here

Luggage shipping Greece

Useful information about luggage shipping to Greece.
>> Click here

Travel insurance Greece

Don't worry and travel happy across Greece.
>> Click here

To
Subject *
Message *
   You are here: Forum > Living in Europe > Greece > Health care > Healthcare in Greece