One year after Greece introduced a law allowing public hospital doctors to engage in private practice, interest remains surprisingly limited. The reform, aimed at giving doctors the option to supplement their income while improving healthcare accessibility, has not met expectations.
Data from the 1st Health Region of Attica shows that out of over 7,300 public hospital doctors, only 686 have sought permission to practice privately. For the second half of 2025, no new applications appear to have been submitted, highlighting ongoing reluctance.
The measure seems most popular among doctors in primary healthcare centers, with 73 applications approved for the second half of 2025, compared to 80 in the first half. In the 2nd Health Region covering Piraeus and the Aegean islands, applications increased only modestly from 346 to 415, with 23% coming from island doctors in locations such as Santorini and Chios.
Hospitals contributing most to private practice participation include Asklipieio Voula (64 doctors), Attikon (58 doctors), and Agios Panteleimon in Nikaia (56 doctors). In addition, 48 primary care doctors have received approval to offer private services this year.
Despite these numbers, the overall share of Greek public hospital doctors engaged in private practice remains below 18%, and experts do not expect significant growth.
Why the hesitation?
According to Giorgos Sideris, president of the Athens-Piraeus Doctors’ Union (EINAP), two main reasons explain the limited uptake:
- Lack of free time: Doctors often work exhausting schedules, including six shifts per month—two active and four on-call—plus extra hours when needed. “After a full shift, who has the energy to work privately the next day?” Sideris asks.
- Conflict of duties: Balancing a private practice alongside public hospital responsibilities can lead to compromises in care quality.
Sideris also highlights high taxation and liability insurance costs as major deterrents, making private practice financially and administratively burdensome. For now, the new law appears to offer limited incentives, with most Greek doctors opting to focus on their demanding public hospital duties rather than expanding into private practice.
Source: Tovima.com
