Greek healthcare spending lagging, OECD report shows

Greece’s healthcare spending remains significantly below the European average, with Greek citizens covering a larger share of their medical expenses out-of-pocket than most OECD nations, according to the latest Health at a Glance 2024 report. 

Greeks pay 33% of their total healthcare costs, more than double the OECD average of 15%. Preventative healthcare receives just 4% of total spending, far below Britain’s 12% and Austria’s 10%. Long-term care accounts for only 2% of health expenditures, compared to the OECD average of 8%.

With an annual per capita healthcare expenditure of €2,001, Greece ranks 20th among 27 EU nations, well below the €3,533 EU average.

By comparison, Switzerland leads with €5,630 per capita. Meanwhile, 30% of Greece’s healthcare spending goes to private providers, nearly double the OECD average of 16%.

Kathimerini