“What is the health system like in Crete”, I am often asked. From our experience the Greek NHS and private clinics are better than those we have recently experienced in the UK.
For minor ailments you can do no better than ask the local chemist, who is trained to advise and recommend medication. He will also take your blood pressure too. Many times we have had visitors from the UK who are staggered to find they can buy their prescribed medication over the counter at the local chemist, far below the cost of a prescription charge in the UK.
Most large villages have a Medical Centre, where a Doctor will treat you, although it has to be said you will invariably be sent to see the Pathological Doctor (equivalent to a GP) in the nearest large hospital.
Don’t you have to pay?
If you are of pensionable age then you are entitled to free medical care and hospital care. Register with IKA in Souda road, Chania, to obtain an IKA Health Book, and you will be allocated the name of a local Doctor. By telephoning 184 – the national appointments telephone line – you can also arrange to be seen by a specialist consultant. However, this will be made easier when telephoning if you have someone beside you who can speak Greek. You will not be required to pay for medical treatment and prescriptions given under the IKA scheme may be taken to any chemist where you will be charged just 25% of the full cost.
You should also remember that personal patient care in Greek hospitals is not undertaken by nurses. Culturally patients are looked after by family members who may even sleep in a chair beside the bed. You can of course pay privately for a nurse if you prefer.
Hospital is never a place of enjoyment – and being in a foreign country and not understanding the language does little to help the stress and worry of an operation. Of the several Brits we know who have had surgical procedures, they have nothing but praise for the treatment they received from the Greek national health system. And unlike the UK there are no significant delays, waiting for an operation.
I DON'T QUALIFY FOR FREE MEDICAL CARE. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
If your main residence is in the UK you can apply for an E121 Form from the Post Office. This card provides free hospital and medical care in Crete on a temporary basis.
If you intend to reside permanently in Greece you have two options.
PAY AS YOU GO?
Visit a local doctor – the equivalent of a GP – and you will be charged around 30€ for the consultation and a prescription. Arrange to see a specialist consultant and the fee is around 50€ plus the cost of any tests required. The Gavrilakis Clinic in Chania undertake blood and urine tests, x-rays, ultra-sound, MRI scans etc. The charge for an MRI scan for example is around 240€ which would normally cost several hundred pounds in the UK. In Greece you generally get results within 48 hours. The cost of an operation such as a hysterectomy for example would cost in the region of 4,200€ - which includes all surgery costs, private room, nursing care, medication and aftercare consultation.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE?
IMPORTANT POINT While you can receive private health insurance cover for life, you cannot be older than 60 years and six months before first applying for cover. Over this age you will be unable to take out private insurance cover.
There are many packages on offer from basic cover to the whole nine yards. A top of the range insurance from the Agrotiki Bank for example, provides cover - for a couple - and costs 2,200€ per annum. For that, you are covered GP, specialist consultant, surgery, private room, nursing care, post-operative care, medication and clinical tests. A cheaper package of around 1,000€ per annum, for a couple, gives you ‘hospitalisation’ cover of surgery costs and medical care.
HOSPITAL EMERGENCIES?
For any emergency go to the Accident and Emergency Department in Chania Hospital at Mournies. Emergency treatment is usually good, you rarely have to wait too long to be seen and doctors usually speak some English. You should show your health card, IKA book or private health insurance. You will be required to pay a small cost for some tests, such as x-rays - about 5€ each – but if you are not covered by IKA, or don’t have private health insurance, you will be required to pay full costs for any tests.
All in all – no matter where you are in the world - nobody relishes the idea of hospitals. Just take solace from the fact that living the Cretan lifestyle is supposed to mean you will live a long and healthy life.
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