A new World Health Organization (WHO) study reveals that out-of-pocket payments are causing catastrophic health spending for nearly 10% of households in Greece. Families facing such financial strain often struggle to afford basic necessities like food, housing, and utilities. The report highlights that the burden of these expenses is disproportionately concentrated among the poorest fifth of the population. While low-income households spend more on outpatient medicines and care, higher-income households tend to face costs from inpatient and dental services.
Titled “Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Greece,” the report finds that despite recent improvements in access to affordable health services, gaps in coverage and quality continue to persist. Many citizens still experience unmet health needs, particularly for dental care and prescribed medicines, largely due to cost barriers. Greece’s rates of unmet medical needs remain above the European Union (EU) average, and income inequality continues to influence who can access care. According to Dr. Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of the Division of Health Systems at WHO/Europe, while financial protection has improved, many low-income individuals still face financial hardship and limited access to care.
The economic crisis that began in 2008 exposed weaknesses in Greece’s health coverage system, intensifying financial hardship and unmet medical needs. Cuts in health spending and policy fragmentation worsened access to essential services. WHO emphasizes that stronger policy responses are needed to support low-income households and reduce out-of-pocket payments, particularly for outpatient medicines and primary care.
Although financial protection has improved since the crisis, disparities persist. Public spending on health remains below the EU average as a share of GDP, reflecting the relatively low budgetary priority given to health. Gaps in who is covered, what services are covered, and the level of user charges (co-payments) continue to widen inequality in access.
The report outlines several policy recommendations to strengthen affordable access to health care. These include simplifying co-payment systems, expanding exemptions for low-income households, and introducing income-based caps. It also calls for promoting generic medicines, lowering drug prices, and expanding publicly financed dental services, especially for children and vulnerable populations. Further measures include addressing long waiting times, eliminating informal payments, and ensuring equal entitlement to health benefits for all residents, regardless of contribution status. Strengthening governance and resource allocation within the public health system is also highlighted as a priority.
This review forms part of a WHO series assessing financial protection in European health systems. It evaluates Greece’s progress between 2008 and 2025 using data from household budget surveys and coverage policies. Conducted through the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Financing, the study contributes to monitoring universal health coverage (UHC), a key component of the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Programme of Work. Country-level data and comparative analyses are available on UHC Watch, WHO’s online platform tracking progress toward affordable health care in Europe and Central Asia. The report was supported by funding from the European Union’s EU4Health programme.
