Best Hospitals for Ophthalmology in Greece

Greece has some world-class hospitals, such as:

1. The Central Clinic of Athens, Athens
2. Athens Vita Veritas
3. European Interbalkan Medical Centre, Chortiatis
4. Metropolitan Hospital, Ethnarchou Makariou
5. Euromedica General Hospital of Rhodes, Rhodes
6. New Life IVF, Salonika
7. Garavelas Medical Group, Athens

Greece has world-class hospitals that strictly follow international health standards and are backed by internationally accredited physicians. Some of the popular destinations like Corfu, Peloponnese, Crete, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Kalamata, and Athens are flocked with the majority of hospitals, which help in the growth of medical tourism in the country.

Medical facilities in Greece receive accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI). JCI consults global healthcare experts, providers, and patients to develop healthcare standards. 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 standards set a quality benchmarks that help the hospitals to monitor, assess, as well as improve the standards of quality healthcare.

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 a safe travel destination and the beauty of the country’s landscape, along with its wealth of plenty sunshine, therapeutic natural springs, and unique Mediterranean cuisine make the country a perfect tourist destination. There are other factors that help make Greece one of the top medical tourism destinations in the world, including technology-based medical care, highly trained and professional medical professionals, and world-class private healthcare services.

Greece boasts of world-class doctors having global exposure in handling various complex cases with great ease. Most of them 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.

Two types of visas can be availed by a candidate for traveling to Greece for treatment:

1. Schengen Visa: For short stay
2. National Visa: For prolonged stay

A person holding a Schengen Visa can stay in Greece for a period of 90 days within a period of six months. The essential documents required for applying for a medical visa are:

1. Valid passport
2. Recent passport size photographs
3. Valid insurance papers
4. Accommodation proof from the candidate
5. Employment documents along with bank statements
6. Medical certificate attested by the referring registered medical practitioner

Depending on the interview and the documents submitted, the Greece embassy decides whether a person can be granted a medical visa or not.

The popular procedures in Greece are:

1. IVF
2. Breast augmentation
3. Liposuction
4. Nose reshaping
5. Eyelid surgery
6. Face lift
7. Hair transplantation

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. The country has made commendable advancements in the field of fertility treatment. Greek scientists have made breakthrough research into fertility treatment, particularly, male fertility and sperm health.

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 is known for high-standard medical services in various specialty areas, such as gynecology and obstetrics, cosmetic surgery, orthopedics, and rehabilitation. Santorini is the most beautiful island in Greece where patients can completely relax and rejuvenate after treatment and experience a speedy recovery. Other factors that make these cities popular among medical tourists are cheap accommodation, language assistance, transportation facilities, and a wide range of food options.

Vaccination is compulsory before traveling to Greece. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccines:

1. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
2. Chickenpox
3. Shingles
4. Pneumonia
5. Influenza
6. Hepatitis A
7. Hepatitis B
8. Meningitis
9. Polio
10. Measles
11. Rabies
12. Mumps and rubella (MMR)

Outbreaks of routine diseases happen in certain areas of Europe. So, make sure your routine immunization is up to date. You should consult your doctor to seek travel medical advice related to your personal requirements, including your present medical conditions, advice on vaccination, and medication-based on the past vaccination history. Connect with the government or contact your hospital in Greece to get complete information on vaccination.