title: The healthcare system and provision of oral healthcare in European Union member states. Part 4: Greece.
abstract: This paper presents a description of the healthcare system and how oral healthcare is organised and provided in Greece, a country in a deep economic and social crisis. The national health system is underfunded, with severe gaps in staffing levels and the country has a large private healthcare sector. Oral healthcare has been largely provided in the private sector. Most people are struggling to survive and have no money to spend on general and oral healthcare. Unemployment is rising and access to healthcare services is more difficult than ever. Additionally, there has been an overproduction of dentists and no development of team dentistry. This has led to under or unemployment of dentists in Greece and their migration to other European Union member states, such as the United Kingdom, where over 600 Greek dentists are currently working.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Damaskinos
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. 2, Thivon Str, 115 27, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koletsi-Kounari
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece. 136, Syngrou Av. 176 71 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.affiliation: University College London Eastman Dental Institute, Universities of Brescia and Leeds, Honorary Professor, University of Kent, TN25 4EW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland, Professor in Dental Public Health, Institute of Clinical Dentistry, Arctic University of Norway PO Box 30. 00271, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Widström
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004497:Education, Dental; D005062:European Union; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000458:organization & administration; D009909:Oral Health; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000458:organization & administration; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce