Report highlights children's limited access to free healthcare in Greece
A KEPE report reveals that many children in Greece face poverty due to limited access to public healthcare services.
The Centre for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) has published a new report shedding light on the challenges children in Greece face in accessing free public healthcare. The findings suggest that child poverty in the country is not solely due to economic hardship, but also stems from systemic obstacles in healthcare accessibility.
REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN ACCESS
The report highlights significant regional inequalities, particularly in Attica, where one in every ten children experienced healthcare-related deprivation between 2018 and 2023. These children were unable to access free medical services, placing them in a vulnerable position that qualifies as a form of poverty.
The situation is similarly concerning across Greece's mountainous areas, border regions, and islands. Data from the 2023–2024 period shows that one in every seventeen children in these regions struggles to access comprehensive healthcare services.
CHALLENGES FACED BY MIGRANT CHILDREN
KEPE also emphasized the difficulties faced by migrant children. According to the report, one in every nineteen migrant children across the country encounters obstacles in accessing public healthcare services. These barriers include bureaucratic delays, language limitations, and insufficient local medical infrastructure.
The findings call attention to the urgent need for improved healthcare policies that ensure equal access for all children, regardless of geographic location or immigration status.
