State education, health not so free
All studies on the subject of household expenditure carried out in Greece over the past few years rank health and education expenses at the top of the list despite the fact that these two areas are, theoretically, covered by the state. Exactly how «free» state education is does not have to be explained to those of us with children who pay through the nose to equip them with language skills and to send them to cramming schools so that they are sufficiently prepared for university entrance examinations; then, of course, there is university education itself, with all the extra costs that this entails, especially when the children are studying away from their home town. «State health» is another myth, despite the fact that the health of its citizens is indisputably one of the state’s chief obligations. The statistics speak for themselves: A massive 47 percent of total health expenditure is «private expenditure» (namely, the extra payments we are obliged to make beyond our social security contributions) while the equivalent figure in the EU is just 20 percent. This is not to cast aspersions upon the doctors and nurses at our state hospitals who are, overwhelmingly, professional and dedicated despite widespread staff shortages and inadequate facilities. However, this does not mean that we should forgive the state for failing to ensure the efficient operation, management and funding of these crucial institutions. For instance, it is completely unacceptable that citizens are obliged to join the massive waiting lists for basic medical examinations, especially as this forces a significant proportion of them – as many as can afford it – to resort to the private sector, which charges prices that are triple those of the state sector.
