Greece recorded the highest rate of unmet medical needs in the European Union in 2024, according to data released by Eurostat. Nearly 22% of Greeks over the age of 16 reported needing medical examination or treatment but were unable to access care due to financial constraints, long waiting lists, or distance from medical providers. The EU average stands at just 3.6%.

The next highest rates were in Finland (12.4%) and Estonia (11.2%), while Cyprus, Malta, and the Czech Republic reported the lowest percentages, ranging from 0.1% to 0.6%.

The study also highlights significant disparities within Greece, particularly among people at risk of poverty. Over 32% of Greeks facing financial hardship could not obtain necessary healthcare, compared with much lower percentages for those not at risk, representing a gap of 12.7 percentage points—the largest in the EU.

In response, Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis defended the country’s national health system (ESY), describing it as a “giant organization” with 127 hospitals, over 100,000 staff, and thousands of regional clinics and health centers. He emphasized improvements, citing that 75% of patients report satisfaction with their care, 86% receive surgery on time, and most wait less than four hours in emergency departments.

Nevertheless, Georgiadis acknowledged ongoing challenges, including occasional long waits for biopsies and overcrowded facilities, while criticizing international reports, such as Le Monde, for presenting an allegedly exaggerated negative picture of the system.