Institutional and Organizational Efforts to Establish Primary Health Care in Greece

Abstract

According to international experience, Primary Health Care (PHC) should be the basis of any modern health system and its effectiveness is linked to a better health level, lower spending and high user satisfaction. In this article we try to summarize the efforts to establish a PHC system in Greece and the regulatory framework from the establishment of the National Health System. Although many multiple legislative efforts have been made, PHC in Greece is still the weak link of the health system and the current attempted reform under Law 4486/2017 aims at addressing the chronic weaknesses of PHC by creating an integrated and decentralized public PHC system that, in full development, will ensure public, free, universal coverage of the population. The latest reform fulfills the design of the fundamental principles of the PHC on equality, health promotion, cross-sectoral action and co-operation, social participation and rational use of resources as outlined in the Alma-Ata declaration. However, in its implementation, difficulties are already emerging that raise concerns about the resilience and success of completing the new system.