Greece: Health System Review — Economou 2017

This analysis of the Greek health system examines its organization, governance, financing, care, reforms, and performance. Greek society and healthcare have suffered from the economic crisis. In the EU, life expectancy at birth and 65 is above average, but health inequalities and risk factors like smoking and child obesity persist. Taxes and social health insurance fund the centralized health system. Health system reforms have failed or stalled due to structural and operational inadequacies. The country's Economic Adjustment Programme has spurred many health sector reforms to reduce public spending and address inequities and inefficiencies. Since 2010, these reforms have included establishing a single purchaser for the National Health System, standardizing the benefits package, re-establishing universal coverage and access to health care, significantly reducing pharmaceutical expenditure through demand and supply-side measures, and important changes to procurement and hospital payment systems, all in the context of severe fiscal constraints. 2018–2021 is the time to overhaul primary care. Keeping universal health coverage, access to needed health services, and health system planning, coordination, and governance are other challenges. While most reforms have focused on cost reduction, longer-term strategic reforms that improve efficiency, guarantee health service delivery, and improve care quality are needed.

Economou, C., Kaitelidou, D., Karanikolos, M., & Maresso, A. (2017). Greece: Health System Review. Health Systems in Transition, 19(5), 1–166. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29972131/