Health care in Greece
Encyclopedia
Health care in Greece
is provided by the state through a universal health care
system funded mostly through national health insurance
, although private health care is also an option. According to the 2011 budget, the Greek healthcare system was allocated 6.1 billion euro
, or 2.8% of GDP. In a 2000 report by the World Health Organization
, the Greek healthcare system was ranked 14th worldwide in the overall assessment, above other countries such as Germany
(25) and the United Kingdom
(18), while ranking 11th at level of service.
Healthcare in Greece is provided by the National Healthcare Service, or ESY .
Health care in Greece traces its roots to the ancient Greek civilization
. Hospitals did not exist in the modern sense in the ancient Greek world, but temples dedicated to the healing god Asclepius
(called Asclepieia) functioned as healing places as well as places of worship. It is not known whether or not cities in ancient Greece provided free health care to their citizens, but recent study of the ruins of the Kos Asclepieion show that medical services were offered to everyone who could pay for them, including slaves and foreigner
s.
The Byzantine Empire
is accredited by some for having invented the hospital as the institution we know it to be today. Professor Timothy S. Miller of the John Hopkins University argues that the Byzantine Empire was the first to employ a system of hospital-based health care, where the hospital became the chief institution of the medical profession in contrast to its function as a last resort in Western medieval Europe, carrying forward the medical knowledge of ancient Greece
and Rome
.
(39), Spain
(34) and Italy
(39), but considerably below countries such as France
(72) and Germany
(83). On 1 July 2011, the Ministry for Health and Social Solidarity announced its intention to cut back the number of beds and hospitals in the country from 131 hospitals with 35,000 beds to 83 hospitals with 33,000 beds.
Currently the largest hospital in the country is Attica Psychiatric Hospital "Dafni" with 1,325 beds, while the largest general hospital is "Evangelismos" General Hospital of Athens with 1,100 beds. Public hospitals in Greece are constructed by a government-owned company by the name of DEPANOM. S.A. , which is also in charge of maintaining and upgrading the country's public medical facilities and equipment.
Emergency, ambulance and air-ambulance services in Greece are provided by the National Center for Direct Aid, known mostly by the acronym EKAB .
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
is provided by the state through a universal health care
Universal health care
Universal health care is a term referring to organized health care systems built around the principle of universal coverage for all members of society, combining mechanisms for health financing and service provision.-History:...
system funded mostly through national health insurance
National health insurance
National health insurance is health insurance that insures a national population for the costs of health care and usually is instituted as a program of healthcare reform. It is enforced by law. It may be administered by the public sector, the private sector, or a combination of both...
, although private health care is also an option. According to the 2011 budget, the Greek healthcare system was allocated 6.1 billion euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
, or 2.8% of GDP. In a 2000 report by the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, the Greek healthcare system was ranked 14th worldwide in the overall assessment, above other countries such as Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(25) and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(18), while ranking 11th at level of service.
Healthcare in Greece is provided by the National Healthcare Service, or ESY .
History
Classical Greece
Classical Greece was a 200 year period in Greek culture lasting from the 5th through 4th centuries BC. This classical period had a powerful influence on the Roman Empire and greatly influenced the foundation of Western civilizations. Much of modern Western politics, artistic thought, such as...
. Hospitals did not exist in the modern sense in the ancient Greek world, but temples dedicated to the healing god Asclepius
Asclepius
Asclepius is the God of Medicine and Healing in ancient Greek religion. Asclepius represents the healing aspect of the medical arts; his daughters are Hygieia , Iaso , Aceso , Aglæa/Ægle , and Panacea...
(called Asclepieia) functioned as healing places as well as places of worship. It is not known whether or not cities in ancient Greece provided free health care to their citizens, but recent study of the ruins of the Kos Asclepieion show that medical services were offered to everyone who could pay for them, including slaves and foreigner
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
s.
The Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
is accredited by some for having invented the hospital as the institution we know it to be today. Professor Timothy S. Miller of the John Hopkins University argues that the Byzantine Empire was the first to employ a system of hospital-based health care, where the hospital became the chief institution of the medical profession in contrast to its function as a last resort in Western medieval Europe, carrying forward the medical knowledge of ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
and Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
.
Hospitals
In 2009 the hospital bed to 10,000 population ratio in the country was 48, above countries such as the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(39), Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(34) and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(39), but considerably below countries such as France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(72) and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(83). On 1 July 2011, the Ministry for Health and Social Solidarity announced its intention to cut back the number of beds and hospitals in the country from 131 hospitals with 35,000 beds to 83 hospitals with 33,000 beds.
Currently the largest hospital in the country is Attica Psychiatric Hospital "Dafni" with 1,325 beds, while the largest general hospital is "Evangelismos" General Hospital of Athens with 1,100 beds. Public hospitals in Greece are constructed by a government-owned company by the name of DEPANOM. S.A. , which is also in charge of maintaining and upgrading the country's public medical facilities and equipment.
Emergency, ambulance and air-ambulance services in Greece are provided by the National Center for Direct Aid, known mostly by the acronym EKAB .
Statistics
On an OECD health report in 2011, Greece got the following results:| Greece | OECD average | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health expenditure as % of GDP | 9.6% | 9.5% | 15th |
| Health expenditure per capita | $2,724 | $3,223 | 23rd |
| Change in health expenditure (2000–2007) | 6.9% | 4.0% | |
| % health expenditure publically funded | 60.3% | 71.7% | |
| Doctors to population ratio | 6.1 | 3.1 | 1st |
| Acute beds per 1,000 population | 4.1 | 3.5 | |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.3 | 79.5 | |
| Daily smokers among adults | 39.7% | 22.3% | 1st |
| Obesity rate | 18.1% | 15.1% |