Antibiotic misuse still high in Greece, study finds
A new study by Kapa Research, conducted for the Athens Medical Association, reveals that antibiotic overuse remains a serious public health issue in Greece—despite efforts to curb it through stricter regulations.
The findings show that 75% of Greeks used antibiotics in the past year, with one in four doing so without consulting a doctor. Although 71% of respondents said they are aware of the dangers of antibiotic misuse, nearly half admitted they would still consider taking antibiotics for a simple cold, which is typically caused by viruses—not bacteria.
Stockpiling medicine at home also remains common: 22% of participants said they keep antibiotics “for emergencies,” though this figure has improved since 2013, when it was 36%.
Professor Eleni Giamarellou, a leading expert in internal medicine, highlighted the surge in prescriptions during the Covid-19 pandemic as a key factor. “Only 8% of Covid patients had bacterial co-infections, but antibiotics were widely prescribed,” she noted.
While 75% of antibiotics are now prescribed by physicians, 3% are still acquired without prescriptions—down significantly from 16% in 2013, suggesting some progress.
Giamarellou emphasized the need for mandatory infection training for doctors and called on the public to stop using leftover antibiotics. Without urgent global action, she warned, antibiotic-resistant infections could kill more than 200 million people by 2050.
This warning serves as a stark reminder for all countries, including Türkiye, to strengthen public education and professional training in order to prevent a silent global health crisis.
