In oncology, delays are not measured in weeks or months, but in lost chances. Yet, in Greece, the start of radiotherapy can be delayed by up to two months—a period critical for disease outcomes. Waiting lists in public hospitals, combined with the limited number of radiotherapy machines and their concentration in large urban centers, create a suffocating framework for thousands of patients.

When public facilities are unable to respond in time, turning to the private sector often becomes a financial dead-end, with illegal charges reaching thousands of euros. Despite technological advancements and positive interventions in recent years, the lack of infrastructure and inequalities in access continue to test the resilience of the health system—and, above all, the people who need it most.

Progress and Pathologies

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of modern oncology care, as roughly half of all cancer patients will require this type of treatment at some stage of their disease.

In Greece in 2026, the picture remains complex: significant steps forward coexist with chronic systemic flaws, inequalities in access, and institutional failures that continue to burden patients.

According to Ministry of Health data, about 19,000 patients require radiotherapy annually, with nearly 38% of them turning to the private sector.

Based on European data, roughly 3,000 patients per million population need radiotherapy each year. To meet this demand, advanced countries have between 7 and 7.5 radiotherapy machines per million residents. Greece still falls short of this benchmark.

“Currently, the country operates a total of 56 radiotherapy machines, 28 in the public sector and 28 in the private sector. This ratio corresponds to 5.1 machines per million population, which means we need at least 20 additional machines,” emphasizes radiotherapy oncologist and former president of the Hellenic Society of Radiotherapy Oncology (EEAO), Giorgos Pissakas.

Over Two Months

This deficit directly translates into waiting times, which in some cases still exceed two months for radical treatments—a period decisive for disease outcomes.

If the system relied solely on public facilities, the ratio would drop to 2.6 machines per million population, making it impossible to meet patient needs.

“For this reason, the state correctly chose to reimburse radiotherapy in the private sector, with zero or minimal financial burden on patients,” notes Pissakas. However, he complains, the measure is often undermined in practice.

“Unfortunately, many private centers charge patients additional amounts, in violation of the law. For stereotactic techniques, these amounts exceed €5,000, even though full coverage by EOPYY is mandated,” he stresses. The Organization reimburses centers with amounts ranging from €5,500 to €7,500 per patient, which includes the treating physician’s fee.

This phenomenon, known for more than a decade, remains essentially uncontrolled. “The Ministry has known about this for 12 years. Formally it investigates, but in practice it does not address it,” he underlines.

Positive Interventions

Despite the dysfunctions, the past six years have also seen substantial positive interventions. Of crucial importance was the donation of 12 state-of-the-art radiotherapy machines by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation to eight public hospitals, completed in 2019. Additionally, since 2020, public radiotherapy departments have operated full-day services, increasing the capacity of the public sector by up to 50%.

Treatments within the framework of full-day operation are provided free of charge, with departments operating late into the evening. As a result, waiting lists that previously reached six months have been significantly reduced.

Prospects for 2026 include the installation of nine new machines in the public sector through the Recovery Fund, the NSRF, and Regional Authorities, as well as two new machines in the private sector. Furthermore, three old machines still in operation will be replaced, while two new radiotherapy centers are in advanced planning stages in Lamia and at the “Sotiria” Hospital, along with one more in Rhodes.

Decentralizing services is a central goal. As Pissakas emphasizes, the aim is “for every patient to have access to a radiotherapy center within 100 kilometers of their residence.”

Modern Techniques

At the same time, scientific advances significantly enhance the quality of care. As Professor Maria Tolia, Vice President of the Hellenic Society of Radiotherapy Oncology (EEAO), and the Society’s President Georgios Maravelis jointly state, “oncology patients in Greece can receive radiotherapy of very high quality, with access to modern techniques.”

According to them, the use of technologies such as IMRT, VMAT, SBRT, and SRS, combined with techniques to control patient positioning and breathing, allows greater precision and better protection of healthy tissue.

Integrating departments into full-day operations has been crucial in reducing waiting lists, allowing nearly twice as many patients to be served. In many hospitals, emergencies are treated immediately, palliative treatments within a few days, and radical treatments within approximately ten days, strengthening disease control and overall survival.

Each patient’s treatment is discussed in oncology boards, often based on molecular analysis of the tumor, allowing for precision medicine. At the same time, combining radiotherapy with targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and the use of artificial intelligence in treatment planning creates a more effective and patient-centered care system.