Amongst the OECD member countries, Greece has the largest doctors to population ratio, thanks to the sufficient number of hospitals and doctors in Greece available to treat the patients. The hospitals of Greece are equipped with high-tech instruments for accurate and precise diagnosis and treatment. The cities which attract most of the medical tourists visiting Greece are Athens, Peloponnese, Alexandroupolis, Crete, Kalamata, Thessaloniki and Corfu. Greece has upgraded his ranks amongst the top countries in medical tourism due to excellent hospitality, world-class healthcare through innovative techniques, Premium physicians and surgeons, low cost as compared to other European countries and outstanding tourist attractions. The climate of Greece also helps in accelerating the recovery in case of surgery.
The cost of healthcare and treatment in Greece is significantly lower as compared to other countries. For instance, the IVF treatment in Greece costs approximately 3500 Euro while in UK and Italy it is 5800 Euro and 6000 Euro, respectively. It is the reason that Greece has seen an increased number of patients visiting from other countries. The healthcare in Greece is sound and robust and the Government is investing a huge amount of money to raise the standard of healthcare facilities. The cost of treatment in Greece depends upon a variety of factors. The cost of living in various cities of Greece significantly differs and the treatment cost varies accordingly. Further, the experience of the doctors and surgeons as well as the success history of the hospital in conducting that particular treatment also have an impact on the overall cost. Also, if the patients require rehabilitation services after surgeries such as orthopaedic or cardiovascular surgery, the cost will escalate. An underlying medical condition of the patient increases his stay at the hospital and the follow-up visit charges also add up in the total cost. Hospitals may charge a premium on their exclusive services such as surgery or treatment of a rare disease, which is difficult to find at any other hospitals in Greece. So the disease for which treatment is sought also have an impact on the cost of treatment.
Hospitals
Greece is known as the home of medicine. The healthcare system of Greece is sound enough to attract medical tourist. Government is committed to providing world-class medical facility to its people and the doctor to population ratio is highest amongst the OECD nations. According to the World Health Organization, Greece is at 11th rank in the highly developed healthcare system amongst 191 countries. This speaks a volume about the healthcare facilities in the country. The standard of healthcare in Greece fulfills the essential requirement set up by the European Union. 80.3 years is the life expectancy in Greece, which is among the highest in the world. Infant mortality is in Greece is low and the obesity rate is significantly less as compared to the United States. The surgical expertise of Greece is exceptionally advanced as seen in various cases be it the successful surgery of the infant suffering from severe cyanotic congenital heart disease, development of innovative surgery for complex pencil urethra stenosis, or complex brain surgery of an infant. Greece has the following advantages in its healthcare system:
• Low cost of treatment as compared to countries of Europe and other developed countries.
• Experienced Physicians and surgeons supported by extensively trained staff.
• Innovative treatment methods to provide customized treatment at an affordable price.
• High-tech and modern equipment for diagnosis and treatment.
• Climatic conditions speed the recovery process in patients undergone surgery.
Following are the best hospitals:
a) Athens Medical Center, Athens
b) Attica Psychiatric Hospital, Athens
c) European Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki
d) Eftychios Patsidis General Clinic, Larissa
e) Hygeia Hospital, Athens
Greece was among the top countries that have produced the best doctors in the world.
a) Dr. Dougiountzis Apostolos, General Surgeon, Thessaloniki
b) Dr. Mantsis Lazaros, Orthopedic Surgeon, Thessaloniki
c) Dr. Konstantinos Spiliotopoulos, Cardiac Surgeon, Athens
d) Dr. Ioannis Lyras, Plastic Surgeon, Athens
e) Dr. Dimitrios Dovas, Infertility Specialist, Thessaloniki
f) Dr. Anthi Stamkopoulou, Infertility Specialist, Thessaloniki
Major hospitals in Greece provide advanced treatment in almost all therapeutic categories. Patients from all over the world visit Greece for different ailments. However, the following are the therapeutic areas in which Greece is superior as compared to most of the countries of the world:
A) IVF: Advanced methods and lenient country laws related to IVF have fueled the growth of IVF treatment in Greece and patients from Canada, Australia and USA visit Greece to fulfill their dream of getting pregnant and delivering a healthy baby.
B) Plastic or cosmetic surgery: Hospitals and clinics in Greece have access to cutting-edge technology to perform plastic or cosmetic surgery. The common surgeries include liposuction, breast augmentation, facial implants, and otoplasty.
C) Cardiac Surgery: various centers are available in Greece which only caters to the cardiac patients. The eligibility criteria of these centers are strict thus maintaining a high quality of services. The cardiac surgery is performed routinely with high success rate.
D) Orthopedic Treatment: The hospitals in Greece are armed with the latest technology to perform orthopedic surgeries through minimally invasive techniques. The orthopedic surgeons of Greece are extensively trained from renowned orthopedic surgeons of the world.
The most popular hospitals in Greece are:
Greece has many top-quality hospitals that comply with international health standards and are supported by internationally accredited physicians. Greece has several contemporary hospital units that are located in the popular destinations including Corfu, Peloponnese, Crete, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Kalamata, and Athens. The hospitals in these regions contribute to the development of medical tourism in the country.
Medical facilities in Greece receive accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI). The healthcare standards are followed by all accredited hospitals and have been developed in consultation with world healthcare experts and providers, and patients. There is a strict evaluation process to assess the quality and performance of hospitals and the certification is awarded to only those hospitals that meet all the criteria defined by JCI. The healthcare standards offer a strong comprehensive corrective action plan for ensuring quality culture at all levels and across all functions.
Greece’s high concentration of excellent doctors and top-notch hospitals has made it a popular destination for international patients seeking the best care at competitive prices. Greece’s medical system meets all the international healthcare standards and is recognized all across Europe and the U.S. as leaders in the field of medicine. Greece is considered a heaven for medical tourists because of its lovely landscape, a lot of sunshine, unique Mediterranean cuisine, and therapeutic natural springs. Other factors that have improved Greece’s presence in the wellness tourism market are excellent private healthcare services, availability of world-renowned as well as highly trained medical professionals, and technologically-driven medical care.
The level of specialist doctors in Greece is very high. Around 95 percent of doctors in the country are specialists, rather than general practitioners. Around 95 percent of doctors in Greece are specialists and are not restricted to only general medicine. Also, the majority of the doctors have received training in different countries and capable of handling even the most complex cases with quite an ease. The government has strict rules in place for the assessment of the quality of doctors. Doctors must attend a minimum of 80 hours of compulsory further training every five years. The doctors in Greece have achieved several milestones, such as performing the first live-streamed global interactive rhinology and endoscopic skull base surgery, successful excision of cancerous cells in an inaccessible and sensitive area of the brain, and doing the first transcatheter closure of a patent ductus arteriosus.
Depending on the length of stay in Greece, a person can apply for either of the below two types of visa:
A Schengen Visa allows you to reside in Greece for 90 days within a period of six months. The essential documents required for applying for a medical visa are:
Greece embassy reviews the submitted documents and will make a decision on granting a medical visa.
The popular procedures in Greece are:
Moreover, many medical tourists visit Greece every year for renal dialysis and the country is populated with top-notch dialysis centers. Plastic surgery is gaining huge popularity in Greece with the latest innovations in this field. Around 300,000 cosmetic procedures were recorded annually. Greece is a very popular country for IVF treatment and there are at least 50 IVF clinics in the country. People travel from overseas for egg donation and embryo donation.
The cities in Greece which have received worldwide recognition for medical tourism are: 1. Athens 2. Kalamata 3. Peloponnese 4. Alexandropoulos 5. Thessaloniki 6. Corfu 7. Athens
Athens attracts the most number of medical tourists visiting the country as the city has a large pool of good hospitals that offer high-standard medical services in a wide range of disciplines like cosmetic surgery, orthopedics, gynecology and obstetrics, and rehabilitation. Santorini is also a favorite medical tourist destination with a breathtaking view, providing patients complete relaxation, rejuvenation, and wellness that they need for a speedy recovery. Many other reasons that lead to th"Other factors that make these cities popular among medical tourists are cheap accommodation, language assistance, transportation facilities, and a wide range of food options. "e popularity of the cities in the medical tourism sector are affordable accommodation, transportation facilities, more food options, language assistance.
Vaccination is compulsory before traveling to Greece. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccines:
Outbreaks of routine diseases happen in certain areas of Europe. So, make sure your routine immunization is up to date. It is always recommended to get immunized before traveling to Greece as some of its parts are periodically hit by routine diseases. Also, check with the government authority or hospitals in Greece to what vaccination should be taken.
MediGence has pre-negotiated bundled pricing for many surgical procedures that helps you save cost and avail unmatched benefits
Explore our Best OffersAsk your healthcare adviser for the best multiple options and choose the one that meets your expectations
(+1) 424 283 4838
