Barriers in Access to Healthcare Services in Greece Post-COVID-19: Persisting Challenges for Health Policy

Background/Objectives: Access to health services is often limited due to socio-economic and organizational determinants of health systems, which lead to increased unmet healthcare needs. This study aimed to identify access barriers for the general population in Greece, including those that may have emerged following the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of 1002 Greek citizens. A questionnaire regarding socio-demographics, healthcare utilization, and access to health services was used. Interviews took place between October and November 2022. Results: Of 837 participants who used health services in 2022, 82.6% had a medical consultation, 80.6% took diagnostic tests, and 63.6% visited a pharmacy for pharmaceuticals. Of those having a medical consultation, 33.1% did so at an NHS health unit, while 75% of the participants taking diagnostic tests visited a contracted private laboratory. Out of the 135 participants requiring hospitalization, 62% were hospitalized in a public hospital, while 85% of the participants requiring pharmaceuticals visited a private pharmacy. Access barriers in the past year were reported by 48% of the participants requiring a medical consultation, 34% of the participants requiring diagnostic tests, and 40% of the participants requiring hospitalization. The most common barriers were long waiting times and financial constraints. The main barrier to accessing pharmaceuticals was the availability and administration of the product. Conclusions: The identified healthcare access barriers highlight the vulnerabilities of the current health system in Greece, which were further exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Addressing socioeconomic factors that are considered key access indicators should be the focus of future health policy initiatives.