Over the past five years, the number of people living with diabetes in Greece has risen sharply, by approximately 270,000, according to the latest data from the Panhellenic Federation of Associations of People with Diabetes (POSSASDIA). In 2024 alone, more than 1.24 million individuals were prescribed at least two diabetes medications, up from 1.19 million in 2023 and 973,800 in 2019, based on data from the country’s electronic prescription system (IDIKA).
This dramatic rise has led to 1 in 8 Greeks being officially diagnosed with the condition—a figure that may understate the true burden. If undiagnosed cases are included, the ratio may reach 1 in 4 citizens, making diabetes one of Greece’s most urgent public health challenges.
The president of POSSASDIA, Christos Daramilas, noted that despite the steep increase and the daily struggles faced by thousands of patients, the national budget for diabetes care continues to be consistently reduced. He also raised concerns about a series of policy decisions that he argues jeopardize patient safety and fair market regulation.
Among the most controversial is Article 4 of a recent ministerial decision (D3(a)4822/FEK B’/1197/12-03-2025), which exempts private pharmacies from licensing requirements for handling medical devices. According to Daramilas, this violates EU MDR regulations and undermines product traceability, safety standards, and market fairness.
The federation is also alarmed by recent budget adjustments by Greece’s main health insurance provider (EOPYY) affecting a key category of diabetes-related medical supplies (Category L4). These changes risk limiting access to vital materials for insured patients and raise questions about the transparency of public spending.
POSSASDIA reports a flood of complaints from patients facing serious difficulties in filling prescriptions due to confusing new procedures related to EOPYY’s rollout of an OTP-based system for verifying prescriptions of diabetes consumables. Despite EOPYY’s claims of having issued guidelines, patients and caregivers say they have received no official communication since the system’s launch in February 2025. Information has only been posted on EOPYY’s website, creating a significant accessibility barrier—particularly for older adults and those unfamiliar with technology.
Compounding the issue, a “real-time” electronic approval system for certain diabetes treatments was abruptly disabled in September 2024, halting immediate approvals for essential products like amorphous wound dressings. Meanwhile, 18 formal requests for policy clarification or change have gone unanswered by the competent approval committee (AUS).
POSSASDIA is calling for the immediate reversal of these decisions, the restoration of the real-time approval system, and a return to direct prescription by treating physicians without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that delay or obstruct access to essential care.
