Greece may soon be examining the possibility of granting a medical visa to foreigners wishing to visit Greece for healthcare purposes. The issue topped the agenda of talks between the President of the Athens Medical Association Giorgos Patoulis and Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.
The proposal, which has been on the table for several months now, concerns the introduction of the so-called Medi Visa, which will in effect be a short-term visa issued to travelers seeking health and wellness services in Greece.
Patoulis, who is also the head of the Greek Health Tourism Council (Elitour), has been spearheading efforts to introduce a medical visa which would facilitate travel to Greece for medical care and can be combined with travel as well as silver tourism products.
Among others, Elitour also proposed earlier this year the possibility of establishing certified medical units offering health and wellness services inside 4- and 5-star hotels.
During his discussion with Georgiadis earlier this year, Patoulis said these hotels would be required to apply for certification after meeting stringent criteria.
During the meeting, Georgiadis said the ministry would be looking into the matter in the coming period.
Last summer, experts addressing the 1st Health Travel Conference organized by the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM) in Athens said over 1 billion euros in EU resources had been approved for the development of a medical visa as well as other heath-tourism related products.
Source: tovima.com
στο Google News και μάθετε πρώτοι όλες τις ειδήσειςLatest News
Eurostat: Women and Youth Most Underpaid in Greece
In the EU 18.2% of women are low-paid compared to men, against 23% in Greece. A staggering 43% of young Greeks are low-paid—the second-worst rate in Europe.
Public Services in Greece to Go Under Review with New Rating Tool
Public services will receive their evaluation scores and feedback directly, fostering a system of accountability and continuous improvement.
Istanbul Earthquake – Greek Prof. Concerned Major Quake Yet to Strike
Responding to concerns over whether a potential major quake in Istanbul could affect Greece, Papazachos was reassuring: “The fault extends as far as Lemnos and the Northern Sporades, but it doesn’t rupture all at once. An earthquake in Istanbul doesn’t have the capacity to directly affect Greek territory.”
Greece 4th Most Popular Summer Destination for Europeans
Southern Europe remains the top choice for Europeans at 41%, though down 8% from last year, likely due to rising temperatures and climate concerns.
Easter Sales Performance and the Source of €4–5 Million in Losses
Easter retail sales were relatively weak this year, with the only "real winners" being the livestock farmers who had lambs to sell.
Hotel Foreclosures Continue to Plague Greece’s Islands
A surge in hotel foreclosures across Greece’s islands threatens small tourism businesses, despite booming visitor numbers and record-breaking travel in 2024.
Athens Launches Task Force to Safeguard Historic City Center
The new municipal unit will ensure compliance to zoning laws, curb noise, and address tourist rental issues starting from the Plaka district.
WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year
IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock
First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region
![Accor: Η βιωσιμότητα «κλειδί» για την ανάπτυξη και ανθεκτικότητα του ελληνικού τουρισμού [έρευνα]](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/thumbnail-90x90.jpg)
![Οι αλλαγές που υπάρχουν στα φορολογικά έντυπα για τα εισοδήματα του φορολογικού έτους 2024 από ακίνητα [Γ’ Μέρος]](https://www.ot.gr/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/akinita-600x400.jpeg)
