Greeks spend nearly twice as much out of pocket on healthcare as the average European citizen, reflecting longstanding weaknesses in the country’s health system, according to a recent report by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) on inequalities in Greece.
Direct private healthcare payments amount to 2.9% of GDP, compared with an EU average of 1.5%, while public health spending barely exceeds 3% of GDP, far below the EU average of 8%. By contrast, private health expenditure in Greece reaches 5% of GDP, versus just 2% across the EU.
The report highlights persistent structural shortcomings, including limited investment in prevention and primary care, uneven geographic distribution of healthcare professionals and services, and an excessive reliance on hospital-based treatment. Together, these factors create significant barriers to timely and effective access to care.
As a result, 11.6% of the population reports unmet needs for medical examinations and treatment, while 11.5% face unmet dental care needs. The corresponding figures in the EU stand at just 2.4% and 3.3%, respectively.
Income remains a decisive factor in access to healthcare. Unmet health needs affect 30.4% of the poorest quarter of the population, compared with 17.5% of the wealthiest quarter. Despite the existence of a public healthcare system, private payments, pharmaceutical co-payments, lengthy waiting times, and the need to turn to private providers when public services cannot respond promptly continue to weigh disproportionately on lower-income households.
Health outcomes also vary sharply by income level. Lower-income groups consistently report poorer health and higher rates of chronic illness. On a five-point self-assessment scale, average health ratings rise from 4.0 among lower-income groups to 4.4 among the highest earners. Among the poorest quarter of the population, 10.4% describe their health as poor, compared with 3.6% among the wealthiest. Chronic diseases affect 30.4% of the poorest group, versus 17.5% of the richest.
Geography compounds these disparities. Chronic illnesses are most prevalent in rural areas, affecting 28% of residents, compared with 23% in urban areas and 21% in semi-urban regions.
