title: Health reform in Greece: planning and implementation of a national health system.
abstract: The health system in Greece has for many years been in a state of continuous crisis. The basic aspects of this crisis involve: a fragmented administrative framework; low level of public expenditure; a significant private sector; inadequate hospitals; skewed manpower; and, a low level of primary care. In 1983, the National Health System (ESY) was established, as an effort to improve the above situation. This article presents the context of the ESY and the situation of the health system prior to and after the establishment of the ESY. The conclusion drawn is that many of the goals of the ESY have not been achieved or only partly achieved, and that a number of the above serious problems still persist.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tountas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stefannson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frissiras
mesh_terms: D006115:Greece; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006761:Hospitals / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector