Nearly one in five Greeks aged 16 and older—21.9%—needed medical treatment or examinations in 2024 but were unable to access care, according to the latest Eurostat data.
Financial barriers, long waiting lists, and the distance to healthcare facilities were cited as the main obstacles. The figure is the highest in the European Union, sharply above the EU average of just 3.6%.
Other countries lag far behind Greece. Finland reported 12.4% of its population experiencing unmet medical needs, followed by Estonia at 11.2%. In contrast, Cyprus, Malta, and the Czech Republic reported the lowest rates, at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 0.6% respectively, highlighting the stark differences in access to care across Europe.
In 2024 3.6% of people aged 16+ in the EU who needed a medical examination or treatment reported that they were unable to receive it due to financial reasons, long waiting lists or distance.
Highest shares in:
🇬🇷Greece (21.9%)Lowest:
🇨🇾Cyprus (0.1%)👉https://t.co/smzmy8vhE3 pic.twitter.com/FMeDCDUc11
— EU_Eurostat (@EU_Eurostat) August 20, 2025
Vulnerable groups disproportionately affected
Eurostat’s data also shed light on inequalities among different social groups. Across the EU, 6% of people at risk of poverty were unable to access necessary medical care, compared to 3.2% of those not at risk.
In Greece, the gap is particularly striking: more than 32% of people living in poverty reported unmet medical needs, representing a 12.7 percent difference compared to the wider population.
Romania and Latvia also registered significant gaps, with 10.7 and 9.9 percent respectively.
Implications for policy and reform
Experts warn that these figures highlight systemic weaknesses in Greece’s National Health System. Financial barriers, insufficient healthcare infrastructure, and logistical challenges leave thousands of citizens without timely care, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable. Policymakers face growing pressure to tackle long waiting lists, expand access to medical facilities, and implement measures that make healthcare more affordable.
As Greece continues to report the EU’s highest rate of unmet medical needs, the findings underscore the urgent need for reform. The data not only reflect systemic inefficiencies but also reveal the wider social and economic consequences of unequal access to healthcare, signaling a critical challenge for policymakers, healthcare providers, and society at large.
