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Healthcare in Greece
Emergency treatment at public hospitals is free to everyone, including visitors with no insurance. Beyond that, access depends on an AMKA and EFKA registration — and most residents end up using both the public and private systems.
Last verified 12 September 2026 · 1 day ago · checked by spec-import Every figure on this page was checked against its source on this date.
The three acronyms
- ESY (Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας) is the national health system, established in 1983, providing universal coverage to legal residents and funded through taxation and social insurance.
- EFKA is the social security fund. It collects the contributions.
- EOPYY purchases services from public and contracted private providers. When you see "EOPYY-contracted doctor", it means a private practice that accepts the public scheme's rates.
How you get access
- Obtain an AMKA, the 11 social security number.
- Register with EFKA.
- Choose a family doctor.
After that you use ESY facilities free or at low cost. You can book specialists directly — no GP referral is required — though popular specialists have long waits, which is the main reason people also carry private cover.
What you pay
- EOPYY-contracted doctor: a copayment of .
€5 to €15 — source and verification date
Copayment at an EOPYY-contracted doctor
- Prescriptions: subsidised at , depending on the medication.
75% to 100% — source and verification date
Prescription subsidy
Depends on the medication.
- Private specialist without insurance: .
€50 to €100 — source and verification date
Private specialist consultation without insurance
- Private insurance: , the upper end being premium or international cover.
€30 to €210 a month — source and verification date
Private health insurance premium
The upper end is premium or international cover. Non-EU permit applicants must hold insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Greece.
Honestly, how good is it?
Strengths. Greece has among the highest physician-to-population ratios
in the OECD, around Physicians per 1,000 people Among the highest ratios in the OECD. It does not by itself mean short waits: years of austerity left equipment gaps and crowding in parts of the public system.6.3 — source and verification date
Weaknesses. Years of austerity left equipment gaps, long waits and crowding in parts of the public system. English-language support is not guaranteed outside major hospitals and private facilities. And provision is geographically uneven: Athens has the deepest specialist care in the country, while on a small island anything serious means a transfer.
A high physician ratio does not by itself mean short waits. Both things are true at once, and which one you experience depends heavily on where you live.
For visitors
EU visitors use the European Health Insurance Card for medically necessary state-provided care during a temporary stay. It does not cover repatriation or planned treatment. Non-EU visitors should carry travel insurance — noting that emergency treatment at a public hospital is free regardless.
Related
- Getting an AMKA
- Emergency numbers
- Which regions have which hospitals
- EFKA contributions and what they fund
Questions people actually ask
Is emergency treatment really free?
Yes. Emergency treatment at Greek public hospitals is reported as free to everyone, regardless of nationality or insurance status, a position in place since 2025. Do not delay going to a hospital because you are worried about a bill. It does not replace travel or private insurance, which cover repatriation, planned treatment and private care.
How do I get access as a resident?
Obtain an AMKA, register with EFKA, then use ESY facilities free or at low cost. You can choose a family doctor and book specialists directly — no GP referral is required, though popular specialists have long waits.
What will I actually pay?
At an EOPYY-contracted doctor, a copayment of €5 to €15. Prescriptions are subsidised at 75% to 100% depending on the medication. A private specialist consultation without insurance typically runs €50 to €100.
Should I have private insurance as well?
Most residents use both systems: public for serious conditions and emergencies, private for routine care and speed. Premiums run €30 to €210 a month, the upper end being premium or international cover. If you are applying for a residence permit, private cover is a requirement in any case.
What insurance do permit applications require?
Private health insurance from a provider authorised to operate in Greece. This is an explicit requirement of the Digital Nomad and FIP routes. A policy from an insurer with no Greek authorisation is a common reason applications are sent back, even when the cover itself is generous. Get the authorisation confirmed in writing before you buy.
Is the Greek health system good?
It is mixed, and worth being honest about. Greece has among the highest physician-to-population ratios in the OECD at around 6.3 per 1,000. Against that, years of austerity left equipment gaps, long waits and crowding in parts of the public system, and English-language support is not guaranteed outside major hospitals and private facilities.
I am an EU visitor. What covers me?
The European Health Insurance Card, for medically necessary state-provided care during a temporary stay. It does not cover repatriation or planned treatment, and it is not a substitute for travel insurance.
Where should I live if healthcare matters most?
Athens has the deepest specialist provision in the country, followed by Thessaloniki. Crete has a university hospital in Heraklion and a general hospital in Chania. On smaller islands, anything serious means a transfer. Each region profile states the nearest hospital and what it can handle.