Health Care

Health care in Greece is provided through national health insurance, although private health care is also an option. According to the 2011 budget, the Greek healthcare system was allocated 6.1 billion euro(18,7 billion reais), or 2.8% of GDP. In a 2000 report by the World Health Organization, the Greek healthcare system was ranked 14th worldwide in the overall assessment, above other countries such as Germany (25) and the United Kingdom (18), while ranking 11th at level of service. However, since July 2011, with the recent austerity measures, unemployed Greeks receive benefits for a maximum of a year, and after that period, health care is no longer universal and patients must pay for their own treatment. Austerity measures have also resulted in citizens being forced to contribute more towards the cost of their medications.