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GR
Greece
Quick Facts
- JCI hospitals
- 0
- Clinics in registry
- 0
- Regulatory body
- Υπουργείο Υγείας (Hellenic Ministry of Health)
- Visa
- Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending
- Timezone
- EET/EEST (UTC+2 / UTC+3)
- Currency
- Euro
Practical information
Emergency numbers
- Police100
- Medical / Ambulance166
- Fire199
- General EU emergency112
Language
Greek
Local authorities
Sources CIA World Factbook — Greece (accessed 2026-07-05)
Regulation, recourse and logistics
Regulatory bodies
How to check a licence in Greece
- Hellenic Dental Federation (Ελληνική Οδοντιατρική Ομοσπονδία, EOO): register not documentable — its homepage menu shows no register, search or complaint page (not exhaustively explored)
- Panhellenic Medical Association (Πανελλήνιος Ιατρικός Σύλλογος, PIS): register not documentable — its 'National Register of Physicians' page shows no visible search form to automated checks
Medical visa
Visa-free tourist entry (US passport holders) · up to 90 days
Recourse mechanisms
- Complaint to the Hellenic Ministry of Health
Patients may file a complaint with the Υπουργείο Υγείας (Hellenic Ministry of Health), the national health regulator recorded for Greece. The ministry publishes patient-rights information for insured persons on its website.
Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country of 10 million people on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. With nine regions and thousands of islands, it has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean. The Ionian Sea is west of the mainland, Albania northwest, and North Macedonia and Bulgaria north. Turkey is east both by land and the Aegean Sea. The capital, Athens, is the largest Greek city, followed by Thessaloniki and Patras.
*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*
The CIA World Factbook records a physician density of 6.58 per 1,000 population (2022) and around 4.2 hospital beds per 1,000 (2019 est.).
- Regulatory Body
- Υπουργείο Υγείας (Hellenic Ministry of Health)
- JCI-Accredited Facilities
- 0
- Visa Notes
- Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.
- Patient Rights
- Official resource
Malpractice Framework
Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.
Healthcare System
Healthcare in Greece consists of a universal health care system provided through national health insurance, and private health care. 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.
*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*
Health system at a glance
National health-system indicators for Greece, from the World Bank.
- Physicians
- 6.6per 1,000 people · 2022
- Nurses and midwives
- 4.1per 1,000 people · 2022
- Hospital beds
- 4.3per 1,000 people · 2022
- Health spending
- 8.4%of GDP · 2023
- Health spending per person
- $1,963per person, current US$ · 2023
- Paid out of pocket
- 34.3%of current health expenditure · 2023
- Life expectancy at birth
- 81.8years · 2024
- UHC service coverage index
- 77index, 0–100 · 2023
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0), latest year available per indicator as of 2026-10-04. These are country-level figures (densities, shares and averages for the whole country), not measures of any clinic. Other figures on this page may come from other sources and years. Where the text above quotes a different figure, it comes from another source or year; both are cited.
Practical Information
Greece uses the euro. US passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less, and passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of departure with one blank page per stamp. Travellers may be asked to show proof of sufficient funds, which can be met with credit cards, and a return or onward ticket. The maximum currency that may be brought in or taken out is 10,000 euros or equivalent. Petty crime is common in popular tourist locations, and the UK Foreign Office warns of a high risk of wildfires from April to October. Always carry photo identification and a copy of the passport's biographic data page, as police may ask for it. Medical care is delivered in Greek, with English also used in medical settings; ambulance services are on 166 and the general EU number 112. Comprehensive travel insurance covering planned activities and emergency expenses is advised.
Official travel advice
Pointers to the official advice pages — this registry does not summarise or interpret them.
Latest update to the advice page (any section), 11 August 2026: “Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).”
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Travelers’ Health
CDC destination page — GreeceContains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (GOV.UK). CDC content is in the public domain. Retrieved 2026-10-04.
Common Procedures
Greece — Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to enter Greece?
US passport holders do not need a visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less, although US official and diplomatic passport holders must obtain a Schengen visa before arrival. Passports must be valid for at least three months beyond the departure date. Travellers may be asked for evidence of sufficient funds, which credit cards can satisfy, and a return or onward ticket. These rules apply to US passport holders; travellers of other nationalities should check the requirements for their own passport.
Who regulates healthcare in Greece?
The national health regulator recorded for Greece is the Υπουργείο Υγείας, the Hellenic Ministry of Health. Healthcare in Greece consists of a universal system provided through national health insurance alongside private healthcare. The ministry publishes patient-rights information for insured persons on its website, which visiting patients can consult before treatment.
What are the emergency numbers in Greece?
Dial 166 for medical emergencies and ambulance services, 100 for police, and 199 for fire. The general EU emergency number 112 also works in Greece. Police may ask for identification, so carry photo ID and a copy of your passport's biographic data page at all times during your stay.
How do payments and money work for a medical trip to Greece?
Greece uses the euro. Currency of up to 10,000 euros or equivalent may be brought into or taken out of the country. Evidence of sufficient funds may be requested on entry, and credit cards can meet this requirement. Both the UK Foreign Office and the US State Department advise arranging travel insurance before departure, including cover for medical expenses, evacuation assistance and trip cancellation.
Is Greece safe to visit for treatment?
The US State Department rates Greece at Level 1, its lowest advisory level, meaning travellers should exercise normal precautions. Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations, and large demonstrations can occur with little notice and may disrupt transport and other essential services. The UK Foreign Office warns of a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Stay aware of your surroundings and monitor local conditions.