History and current state of neurosurgery in Greece

There is a global deficit in access to neurosurgical care. Although most of the deficit occurs in low- and middle-income countries, high-income countries can also face similar problems. Greece has experienced challenges in the provision of neurosurgical care due to diverse terrains, socioeconomic inequalities, and deficient health systems. Discussions with key individuals involved in neurosurgical care were conducted to characterize the history and current state of neurosurgery in Greece. Data were collected from Greek hospitals with neurosurgical services and the archives of the Hellenic Neurosurgical Society. A summary of the background of Greece is provided. Then, the ancient and modern history of neurosurgery and the current state of neurosurgery in Greece is described, underscoring important moments and individuals in Greek neurosurgery. This article describes the history and current state of neurosurgery in Greece and yields critical insights to guide the neurosurgical community in developing neurosurgical care in countries that experience similar challenges as Greece.