Health Care

Farmacies

All farmacies in Greece bear Green Cross signs and they operate during normal bussiness hours (8:00 am - 21:00 pm or 8:00 am - 14:00 and 17:00 pm - 21:00 pm). They provide first aid assistance and are able to provide appropriate advice. Pharmacies are also available during the night a list for which is available on every chemist's shop.

Bear in mind that brand names will possibly differ from those available in your country and they are available either over the counter or a prescription will be required. Should you need a medicine available only with a prescription, consult a physician in order to acquire one.

Hospitals

Greece has hospitals that belong to both the private and the public sector. Athens also has a balance mix of both private and public hospitals that are well equipped to cater to any kind of medical issues. The public hospitals in Greece are managed and controlled by The National Health Service (ESY).

Emergency treatment is free to all nationalities in public hospitals and there are outpatient clinics attached to hospitals in rural areas as well. They're typically open from 8am to noon and treat minor health problems and it's often easy to obtain prompt emergency treatment. There are 24-hour emergency hospitals in major cities and on the large islands, and private hospitals and clinics in major cities and resort areas. Other benefits include free laboratory services, maternity care, medical-related appliances or gadgets, and transportation. Other European Union nationals can also take full advantage of the free health care benefits providing they bear their E111 forms.

One policy universal to all EU member countries is the use of the E106 or the European Health Card. The E106 can be accessed by the expatriate from their own country if they haves paid two full years of social security contribution. The E106 card entitles the bearer to public health cover for a limited period of time. Similarly, retirees from another EU country receiving their pension from their home country but would want to settle in Greece is also entitled to state health benefits.

Physicians

You can either consult a physician (GPs or Specialists) directly, in a public hospital or, in exchange for a cost of about €30-€50, privately in their office or a clinic and be reimbursed by IKA (public health system) for up to 85% of the fee in case you are a contributor to greek social security. Dental and eye treatment is free but non-essential medicines and health-related accessories (i.e. dental crowns, spectacles) are accordingly charged. With the limited facilities of some hospitals, they often refer certain cases to other hospitals. However, queues are long for non-urgent cases.