| The Hellenic Republic consists of over eleven | | | | contributing to the social security system. The |
| million residents with a little over five percent are | | | | free services include free laboratory services, |
| immigrants. With a low population growth and | | | | maternity care, installation of life saving devices |
| death rates also low, this makes the median age | | | | and transportation for the sick and infirm. For |
| quite high among the European countries. There | | | | European Union citizens visiting the country, they |
| are many health related issues with immigrants | | | | can also avail of these menu of services with |
| and tourists. These include diarrhea, cholera, E.Coli | | | | their registration using a E111 form. |
| diarrhea, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever and a | | | | Specialists in the system of health care in Greece |
| whole host of issues from bacteria, parasites and | | | | can be consulted directly but many experience |
| other viruses. With temperatures that reach the | | | | long lines to avail of their expertise in public |
| forties in the Celsius scale, the system of health | | | | hospitals. Patients can go instead to private |
| care in Greece thus becomes an issue when in | | | | specialists and reimburse 85% of the cost from |
| the country. | | | | the Idrima Kinonikon Asfalisseon, the Greek |
| There have been many moves designed to | | | | National Health Care System oversight body. As |
| improve the system of health care in Greece. | | | | for dental and eye procedures, these are free |
| This despite the fact that the country has been | | | | under the system. Non-essential medication and |
| chosen as among the best systems in the world | | | | health accessories though are charged for their full |
| by the World Health Organization. The system of | | | | cost. |
| health care in Greece is a mix of both social | | | | Emergencies are provided free regardless of |
| insurance working with the Greek National Health | | | | nationality or coverage. Many public hospitals have |
| System. This homogeny makes the overall cost | | | | smaller outpatient clinics to assuage the |
| of health care in Greece amongst the lowest in | | | | congestion in the main hospitals. These also |
| the European Union. The allocation of the | | | | provide specific and quicker medical care than the |
| government for health care is also low, with | | | | larger facilities. As for European Union citizens, the |
| general focus of the disbursement of the funds in | | | | E106 can be the lifeline for an individual while in the |
| public hospitals in the highly urbanized areas of the | | | | Greek isles. As for retirees, the Greek system |
| country. The disparity of health care in the urban | | | | allows for full benefit of state health benefits while |
| and rural areas create the perception of low | | | | receiving their pensions from their home country |
| quality, despite the modernity of the public hospital | | | | social security system. |
| facilities in the cities. | | | | The system of health care in Greece receives |
| The European Union has made inroads in upgrading | | | | high marks for its quality while the quantity of |
| the current system in Greece, through aid | | | | services leaves much room for improvement. As |
| programs for the establishment of hospitals, | | | | advised in the Expat Forum, you need to |
| creation of mobile medical facilities, improvement | | | | understand that "expatriates who are working in |
| of emergency care systems and the use of | | | | Greece and pay regular contribution to social |
| cutting edge medical equipment not only in the | | | | security may be entitled to full or subsidized |
| urban hospitals but also in the rural hospitals. The | | | | health care benefits. In such cases, private health |
| National Health System also provides health care | | | | insurance can cover the portion of the bill that |
| services at free or low cost for those individuals | | | | cannot be covered by the government. |