Greek households shoulder heavy health costs

Although Greece operates a public health system, many patients turn to private providers to avoid long waits or patchy availability, making personal payments a defining feature of how care is accessed.

A System Still Geared Toward Hospitals

Nearly 43% of that public health budget goes to hospitals, while outpatient care receives only around one-fifth. Long-term care remains severely underfunded at 2%, despite rising demographic needs.

Prevention is an exception to the pattern. Greece now spends 3.1% of its health budget on preventive programs, up from 2% just a few years earlier and approaching the OECD average of 3.4%. Even so, the report notes that the overall structure remains hospital-centered.

The OECD outlines how Greeks rely on private spending to fill gaps in the public system. Out-of-pocket payments mainly go toward:

Medicines and medical goods: 38%
Outpatient services such as diagnostic tests: 17%
Dental care: 11%
Cost is the most common reason for postponing or skipping treatment, followed by long waits for public appointments. Many people choose to pay privately to secure timely care.

Unmet Needs Are the Highest in the OECD

In 2024, 12.1% of Greeks said they had delayed or gone without needed medical care — the highest share among the 28 OECD countries with comparable data. The OECD average stands at 3.4%.

The burden is heaviest on lower-income households: more than one in six people in the lowest income group reported unmet medical needs, making Greece one of the countries with the steepest income-related disparities. Dental care shows an even wider gap, with over 15% of low-income Greeks unable to access needed treatment.

Low Satisfaction and Fragile Trust

Only 27% of Greeks say they are satisfied with the availability of quality health services where they live. Across the OECD, the average satisfaction rate is 64%, with much higher levels in Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, and Luxembourg.

Trust in healthcare professionals also lags. Just 57% of Greek patients with chronic conditions said they trusted the last provider they visited — the lowest share reported.

Other Notable Findings From the OECD Report

High Antibiotic Use: Greece is among the highest prescribers of antibiotics, alongside Korea. While usage has declined slightly over time, it remains well above many other OECD countries and contributes to antimicrobial resistance.

Low Breast Cancer Screening Rates: Mammography screening remains limited. Fewer than 25% of women aged 50 to 69 receive recommended screenings — among the lowest rates in the OECD. Countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and the United States reach screening rates above 80%.

Limited Public Coverage: Across OECD countries, governments or compulsory insurance cover about 75% of healthcare costs. In Greece, public coverage is closer to 60%, placing it among the lowest.

High Reliance on Inpatient Care: Roughly 40% of Greece’s total health spending goes to inpatient services, well above the OECD average of 28%. This imbalance reinforces the system’s reliance on hospitals.

Public Spending Expected to Decline: By 2045, most OECD countries are projected to increase public health spending as a share of GDP. Greece is one of the few expected to see a slight decrease.