A recent analysis by the ENA Institute has highlighted the growing challenges faced by Greeks in accessing healthcare coverage within the European Union.
Despite the existence of public healthcare systems across all EU countries, many citizens struggle to meet their healthcare needs, and the situation in Greece has deteriorated significantly in recent years.
According to Eurostat data, high costs, distance to healthcare facilities, and long waiting times are the primary reasons for this gap in healthcare coverage.
In Greece, these issues have become particularly acute, with the percentage of individuals unable to cover their healthcare needs rising dramatically since 2022.
Between 2020 and 2021, approximately 6.5% of Greeks were unable to cover their healthcare needs, compared to an EU average of around 2%. However, this figure surged to 9% in 2022 and 11.6% in 2023, surpassing the EU average by a significant margin.
Cost is the most common barrier to healthcare access in Greece, with a staggering 9.4% of the population unable to afford necessary treatment in 2023. This rate is significantly higher than the EU average of 2.2%.
Even among the wealthiest 20% of the Greek population, 2.9% are unable to cover healthcare costs, highlighting the widespread nature of this problem.
While Greece had previously performed better than the EU average in terms of waiting times, this trend has reversed in 2023.
This indicates that the challenges faced by Greeks in accessing healthcare are becoming increasingly multifaceted.
The ENA Institute's analysis underscores the urgent need for reforms to address the growing healthcare crisis in Greece. Increasing access to affordable healthcare is essential for ensuring the well-being of the population and promoting social justice.