Skip to content

Greece · Sistema sanitario

La sanidad en Greece

Partially verified Última verificación June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Antes de mudarte a Greece, la pregunta que importa no es "¿es buena la sanidad?" — es "¿puedo, con un visado temporal, usarla de verdad, y qué pasa en una urgencia?". Aquí tienes cómo funciona el sistema para un nómada y dónde encaja el seguro privado.

De un vistazo

Sistema
Mixto público/privado
Acceso público (nómadas)
No — se necesita seguro privado
Número de emergencias
112
Consulta de médico de cabecera privado
~€50
Atención en inglés
Atención en inglés en grandes ciudades

Cómo funciona el sistema

Greece has a universal public National Health System (ESY) financed from the state budget via direct and indirect tax revenues and social insurance contributions, with EOPYY acting since 2011 as the single purchaser that contracts both public ESY providers and private doctors, clinics and hospitals. A large private sector funded mainly by out-of-pocket payments operates alongside it, making the system effectively a tax-plus-social-insurance public scheme with heavy private/out-of-pocket use.

A well-developed private sector centred on Athens and Thessaloniki (e.g. large private hospital groups) offers faster appointments, modern facilities and English-speaking, often foreign-trained doctors, and is what most temporary residents and nomads use. It is financed largely out of pocket or through private/international health insurance, which private hospitals commonly accept.

The OECD/European Commission State of Health in the EU country profile (2023) reports out-of-pocket payments at about 33% of health spending (among the highest in the EU and far above the EU average) and self-reported unmet medical needs of about 9.0% versus an EU average of 2.2%, indicating cost- and access-related barriers. Figures are largely driven by cost (notably pharmaceutical co-payments and services outside the public benefits package).

Conviene saber

  • EU/EEA visitors with a valid EHIC get medically necessary state-provided care on the same terms as insured Greeks
  • Single EU emergency number 112 operates 24/7 (operators answer in Greek, English and French); EKAV emergency ambulances (also reachable on 166) are provided free of charge
  • Strong private hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki with English-speaking, often foreign-trained doctors and short waits
  • Self-pay private and public afternoon-clinic GP/specialist consultations are relatively affordable (public afternoon outpatient fees roughly EUR 16-72; private self-pay typically higher)

A tener en cuenta

  • Non-EU temporary residents and nomads have no automatic public-system entitlement; routine public access requires registration (AMKA, which generally needs a residence permit with a right to work or study) or, in practice, private insurance
  • Even with an EHIC there are patient co-payments (about 25% on most prescription medicines and 15% on diagnostic examinations at contracted private providers)
  • Out-of-pocket spending is among the highest in the EU (about a third of health spending); public hospital quality and waiting times can vary, especially outside major cities
  • English-speaking care is reliable mainly in private/urban settings; public hospitals and rural/island facilities may have limited English
  • The OECD profile's out-of-pocket and unmet-needs figures are based on 2021-2022 data published in the 2023 profile; treat the exact percentages as indicative

🩺 El seguro que necesitarás

Como los residentes temporales en gran medida no pueden apoyarse en el sistema público, y el DNV exige cobertura, el seguro médico privado forma parte de la mudanza — no es un añadido de última hora. Enumeramos los planes que plausiblemente cumplen el requisito de Greece, ordenados por adecuación.

Ver los planes válidos para Greece →

La sanidad en Greece: preguntas frecuentes

La sanidad en Greece: preguntas frecuentes

¿Puedo usar la sanidad pública en Greece como nómada digital?

En resumen — el sistema público no está abierto a los residentes temporales, así que el seguro médico privado es la vía. A well-developed private sector centred on Athens and Thessaloniki (e.g. large private hospital groups) offers faster appointments, modern facilities and English-speaking, often foreign-trained doctors, and is what most temporary residents and nomads use. It is financed largely out of pocket or through private/international health insurance, which private hospitals commonly accept.

¿Cuál es el número de emergencias en Greece?

112. Llámalo en emergencias que pongan en riesgo la vida; los servicios de urgencias te atenderán con independencia del seguro, pero pueden facturarte después si no tienes cobertura.

¿Necesito un seguro médico privado en Greece?

Sí — además de ser prudente, el DNV lo exige (obligatorio (explícito)). Consulta los planes válidos para Greece.

Fuentes