More Greeks turn to private health insurance

An increasing number of Greeks are seeking some form of private health insurance to supplement their state health cover, according to the results of a nationwide survey which pointed to a 60 percent rise in citizens opting for private care.

This year a total of 38.7 percent of Greeks paid for private insurance – either for a full health package or for checkups or one-off treatments – compared to 23.8 percent in 2012, according to the results of the survey which was carried out on a sample of 1,285 respondents questioned by Kapa Research on behalf of the Athens School of Public Health earlier this month.

The results of the survey came amid widespread discontent about Greek public healthcare, which has been subject to years of troika-imposed cuts and amid slow-moving efforts to overhaul the country’s main public healthcare provider, known as EOPYY.

According to the survey, three out of five Greeks claim to be unsatisfied with EOPYY’s services.

Irrespective of their health insurance status, respondents paid an average of 265.15 euros for primary healthcare services in the first six months of this year, according to the same survey. Of this outlay, the bulk – 103.35 euros – went on medicines.