December 7, 2025

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Who will be left without medical care after November 1, 2025


WITH November 1 came into force in Greece new medical care rules. Now citizens are without active ΑΜΚΑ (single social security number) are excluded from the health care system.

According to the joint instructions Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis And Deputy Minister Marios Themistocleous, Only persons with active AΜΚΑ have the right to treatment without additional payment – regardless of citizenship, subject to legal stay in the country.

The following are eligible for free* medical care:

  • Greek citizens and ethnic Greeks without insurance;
  • citizens of countries EU and third countries legally residing in the country;
  • persons who have lost insurance due to debt, with active ΑΜΚΑ.

Those whose number is inactiveshould contact KΕΠ or EΦΚΑ to activate. Otherwise they will pay for treatment themselves.

Exceptions and vulnerable groups

Certain categories of citizens continue to have free access, even without an active subscription:

  • Minorsthose living in social institutions or foster families;
  • Pregnant women – according to a medical certificate from a state hospital;
  • People with disabilities – if you have a document from the social care structure;
  • Psychiatric patients – according to a certificate from the clinic;
  • Convicted or in custody – according to the document of stay;
  • Persons with chronic or terminal illnesses (disability from 67%) – with a conclusion ΚΕΠΑ.

They also retain the right to treatment refugees, stateless personsvictims of human trafficking and crime, as well as holders of previous insurance rights that have not yet expired.

What does the new system mean?

The Ministry of Health emphasizes that the goal of the reform is streamline the free service system and ensure that assistance is provided to those who are legally entitled to it. Citizens have been given clear instructions: without active ΑΜΚΑ, free treatment is impossible.

The reform aims to increase transparency, prevent abuse and ensure fair access to health care for all categories of the population.

*This is not free medical care, and servicing the insured persons, those who paid or is paying state health insurance.



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