I am often asked how to get your health care sorted in Greece if you are moving there so I thought I would give you a brief outline.

By 2013, all EU citizens will be able to claim back for state medical treatment they receive in other European countries. The new Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, ratified in Brussels by all the Eurozone states, will benefit short-term travellers, retirees who divide their time between the UK and a second home in Greece and those living permanently in Greece. At the moment British citizens who spend more than 184 days a year abroad are not allowed to receive free NHS treatment when they return to the UK but the new law will ensure that they can receive medical care in any of the Eurozone countries.

If you are considering buying a property in Greece look very carefully into the level of medical care in the area, especially if you have any ongoing medical problems. In the more rural areas or on smaller islands you may find that health care can be difficult to access. On Symi for instance they have to travel to Rhodes for some procedures – and remember too that sometimes ferries are stopped or delayed by bad weather, strikes etc. which can exacerbate the difficulties.  

If you have small children it’s rather comforting to have medical help relatively close by – plus it’s difficult to form a good relationship with your doctor if they don’t speak a word of English so think about these aspects in advance too. Find out if there are expats living nearby and have a chat to them about the local medical facilities – or maybe your estate
agent can help here?

I have discussed the EHIC before on this website, so I am only going to concentrate on how to set about sorting your health care if you become a permanent resident.

IKA (Idrima Kinonikon Asfaliseon) is the government body that operating Greece’s National Health Care System and which provides free or low cost health care to residents. If you are going to be working permanently in Greece or are going to retire there you need to be issued with your own medical booklet called the iatrico vivliari from your local IKA office. This must be shown each time you visit a state doctor or hospital.

Pensioners who intend to take up residence in Greece and who are entitled to free medical treatment in the United Kingdom also enjoy this facility in Greece. They should produce their form E121, issued by their local Department of Health Office in the United Kingdom before moving to Greece, at their local IKA office.  In the same way, a person coming to look for work in Greece who was unemployed in the U.K. is entitled to free medical treatment in Greece. They need to produce a form E119 to their local IKA office, also issued in the UK by the Department of Health.  In both the above cases IKA will exchange the form for a medical booklet.

Once in possession of an IKA health book you will be allocated a local GP. Much as in the UK, if you want free treatment you need to make sure you are being seen by an IKA doctor and not a private practitioner. To make an appointment for any specialist doctor under the IKA scheme, phone 184, the national appointments phone line. Bear in mind that the person at the end of the line may only speak Greek so you may need a translator to help you here.

Prescriptions given under the IKA scheme may be taken to any chemist where you will be charged 25% of the full cost.  

If you cannot get to or contact an IKA office before going to a hospital or first aid station, you should ask the authorities at the hospital or station for free treatment under the IKA scheme.

If you live in a remote area of Greece that isn’t covered by a local IKA office, you’ll have to pay the cost of any medical treatment in advance and then re-claim it from the nearest IKA office. Limited dental treatment is free under the IKA scheme but sadly this doesn’t include cosmetic dentistry!

For any emergency you need to report to the Accident and Emergency Department, ΕΠΕΙΓΟΝΤ, at your nearest hospital. Emergency treatment in the hospitals is usually good and doctors generally speak some English. You should show your IKA book and you will be required to pay a small cost for some tests, such as x-rays.
ere are many public and private hospitals plus medical centres of varying standards. Even near Lynn and Jerry’s, right off the beaten track in a very small village, I noticed there was a clinic that opened regularly.

Accounts of poor nursing in Greece abound. Chatting to people while I was in Greece recently they were saying that the new hospital in Rhodes was really great, with good nursing facilities, but I have to say that this is not the usual tale. Generally family and friends are expected to step up to the plate, and if you are hospitalised you will normally need extra help, even perhaps a private nurse or apoklistikia. Many foreign residents also subscribe to a complementary health insurance fund that pays the portion of medical bills not covered by social security and for things like x rays , nursing etc.

In Greece, you can get further information at IKA, which is situated on the 3rd floor at 47 Megalou Alexandrou Street, Athens 104 36, or its regional or local offices called Ipokatastima or at the IKA branch, Parartima.

Of course, as in all countries, there is a plethora of excellent private medical care. If you do decide to go the private route, there are a number of private clinics in the main towns and large tourist resorts which have top of the range equipment, good doctors and nursing care plus private rooms with TV etc. This all comes at a cost so you need to have private health insurance here. You will need to source this yourself once in Greece: perhaps your employer provides this, or you could ask at your new place of employment or a local neighbour to see what they recommend.