A future for primary care for the Greek population

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Policy
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Greece's state debt crisis necessitates healthcare reforms.
• Primary healthcare reform is crucial for sustainable growth and improved health outcomes.
• The European Union (EU) Task Force for Greece commissioned this assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of primary healthcare in Greece.
• To provide recommendations for strengthening primary care services.
• To enhance healthcare system efficiency and accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing primary care data.
• On-site visits to primary care facilities.
• Consultations with healthcare stakeholders.

Main Results:

• Fragmented governance of primary and overall healthcare.
• Lack of gatekeeping and patient list systems.
• High out-of-pocket payments, physician surplus, and a shortage of general practitioners and nurses.
• Uneven distribution of healthcare professionals leading to access, continuity, and coordination issues.

Conclusions:

• Develop a clear vision and strategy for primary care enhancement.
• Implement mandatory referrals for stepped access to secondary care.
• Reduce out-of-pocket payments for primary care access.
• Separate purchasing and providing roles in healthcare.
• Improve care quality via clinical guidelines and indicators.
• Enhance health professional education and retraining for primary care competencies.
• Promote the benefits of strong primary care to the public.