I ended up in Hospital in Greece | How is healthcare for foreigners?
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- My experience as an expat that ended up in the emergency room and hospitalized in Greece. How is emergency Healthcare for foreigners?
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About this video: Moving to Greece is a dream, right? But what happens when you end up in hospital? Living in a foreign country like Greece and dealing with health issues can be stressful, especially when you don’t know what to expect.This video will answer some questions about greek healthcare. How is Healthcare for foreigners? What happens if you need to go to the hospital abroad as an expat? Do you have to pay for emergency healthcare in Greece? I hope my experience will help you to get an idea of what to expect if you find yourself in a similar situation, whether you’re a foreigner living abroad or just a tourist that ended up in hospital during your trip to Greece.
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❓Where are you watching this from? Drop a comment⬇
@@Sunpire sweden
@towemagnusson2529 Well Hello Sweden 🇸🇪 👋
While vacationing in Greece my wife fell and injured her ankle badly, we took her to a private clinic, a doctor showed up immediately, did the exam, X-ray, and bandaged her foot, everything done in thirty minutes, doctor and nurse spoke English very very well, I only had to pay 30 Euro and I had no local insurance, I was amazed at how well organized they were, in the US it would have cost us with insurance $100 deductible!
I’m glad you received good care and everything went well. Health care in the US is very expensive even with insurance. Now when traveling I buy separate insurance for the continents I travel to for the duration of my stay, that way I don’t burden their system.
Thank you for watching our video. In the US, healthcare is very different from EU... But to buy a travel insurance separately is the best way to go 👍🏻
I in Greece hospitals may be run down due to years of economic hardship but most doctors are EXCELLENT. And yes most people speak decent English, at a somewhat higher rate than in Spain.
In my experience, everything went well! All the doctors I came across were helpful and polite, and they all spoke English with me. I really appreciated it!
We aren't so organized as in northern EU countries, but our doctors know their science.
Yes, we are really grateful for all 🙏 🙏
@@Sunpire I'm so sorry, I had made a typo. I corrected it.
You have experience and knowledge.
Canadian in Greece , and got sick ended in the emergency got treated they were very nice , love Greece
Great, we love Greece as well 💙💙🙏🙏
I stayed 1 week in Ioaninna university hospital last year for my heartproblem! So good everything! 👍👍👍🇬🇷
That's good to hear! 🙏 Glad you had a good experience!💙🇬🇷
Im shocked as a greek to hear about this.looks like the greeks have lifted their game.Bravo greece.You've been copping alot of shit from tourists claiming the hospitals are atrocious. Tell you what, i was in america and i had to see a doctor....Money up front, before i saw anyone.If you dont have health insurance in America,goodbye charlie.
I was really happy with my experience! I think you can have a good or a bad experience everywhere. I know US is expensive when it comes to healthcare, in Europe seems to be more affordable.
Things are done differently in Crete than they are on mainland Greece. Mainland Greece wants your tourism dollar and does not care about you. Crete on the other hand relies on your tourism dollar, they want it, but more importantly, they want to make you happy. And they do it well.
@@bwana-ma-coo-bah425 The Health System in Greece is Public and does not change from place to place. Even in your logic, it would be Crete, an overpopulated by tourists place, that would want "your dollar" and not Athens, where things are more procedural and impersonal. In short terms, you are full of s h i T my friend
Bwana u don’t know what you are talking about ,mainland and all islands including crete has the same health care system , THE SAME , and heraclion happens to have also the medical university and it has a good name cauz most of the doctors are also professors in the university and all medical universities have a good hospital near them . Greek hospitals may be understaffed but they wont let you die and it is not because we see tourist as money bags , if we did that we wouldn’t treat the tourists like that , we would patch her and send her in her country and wish her good luck. The only difference between mainland hospitals and big hospitals like the heraclion one is that the mainland hospitals need to attend way more ppl than their capacity to do so.
@@Sirkostas81 And that has what to do with my comment?
And to note, you're witnessing a system torn apart by a decade of forced austerity policy, making Greece an example of - to scare the rest of the EU into a horrible economic policy (late German fin minister tried to force, Mr Schäuble*). Myself I served in the Greek Medical Corp as an officer, for my mandatory mil duty. Helped modernize army IT & infra... Was hoping to bring some of that to the public healthcare system too. Current gov is still trying to tear it apart, favoring private healthcare.
don't forget the 10+ years of economic crisis and austerity measures.
Result: Many of the country's infrastructures are underperforming.
Περαστικά-să vă faceţi bine!
It was actually better than what we expected! Thank you !❤️
And you still didn’t have to pay a cent??!!!!
I think being part of EU gives us access to free emergency healthcare. But I think if it's an emergency is still free no matter where you're from🤔
@@Sunpire in greece
hospital emergency is free for everyone you dont even need insurance or anything
first of all the public hospitals are free in Greece, your insurance didnt change anything,
secondly the toilets are like that because is helthier to use them in hospital, cause it doesnt matter how many times they clean them do you feel comfortable to touch somewhere that a person with an unknown disease touch mitutes ago?
third the food has to be like that without salt or anything beacuse you are patient.
and last the Greek doctors are among the best in the world half of them with extra studies abroad.
About the language 15% of Greeks speaks Italian and some other 15% France, no question about English and no any comparison to the rest of Mediteranean or Balkans.
enjoy your stay here
Thank you for adding all this useful information! ❤️It makes sense! It's good to know for people who are from different countries.
100% right
Good to hear about your experience with Greece’s health care system. That is a big concern for me as there are many stories out there. thanks for sharing.
Thank you for watching! I had a very good experience! If it happens to have any emergency, they will take care of you!
Hello fm Athens. First if u go to the emergency room in a hospital here in Greece,80% they will keep you, for a night just to make sure you are ok. Second you were very lucky The University Hospital in Iraklio has the best eye doctors in Greece. Many of us fm all over the country go there for eye problems.
Hello, Lena!💙 thank you for the info! I didn't know how things work here, I was surprised to stay for a few days. But I'm glad everything went well in the end. I did hear that there are good doctors at the University Hospital in Heraklion. My doctor was a specialist in the exact problem I have with my eyes. I was very lucky.
Years and years ago I was a Archeological / Tourist guide! At the Mycenaean Palace a client of mine . a 65 year old American fell down some stares and broke his Arm!
I drove him to a small regional hospital. There the did everything. From Imaging to Gypsum wrap! When we where finished I took him to the car and there he stopped me, and said, we can not leave without paying! OOOK We went back inside and I pointed him to the Info-desk! There they told him that in Greece for emergencies you have not to pay! That is your right as a human-being!
His USA / America world crumbled! He could not understand that it is a fundamental right to get cured! yeah somethings are Great in Greece...others not so much!
Yes, USA is different in the healthcare system , different in a not so good way...
This is the first video I encounter about healthcare experience of an ex-pat in Greece!
Videos like this will be really interesting & helpful for those who thinking about moving abroad, because, yes, "the weather, the food, the people, the sea" etc. - but these evereyday details set the tone right!
Thank you very much for watching us 😀 😊. We were thinking the same thing, that is why we shared our experience 😀.
You had a surgery (OK, a minor one...) the next day after you arrived? In Canada the wait would have been 16 months...I don't think the wait time was bad at all.
You're right! The wait time was actually good.
Probably because it was an emergency situation, they couldn't let me walk with something sticking out of my eye😅
In the UK, though, I waited over 1 year to see a specialist to get a diagnosis. And I was on a waiting list for almost 2 for a different issue. I think many countries face really long waiting time unfortunately 😔
its the same in Greece as well , appointments are probably set after 10-12 months , emergencies though are almost instant depending on the case but its still not great.
In Australia, sometimes you wait all day! Usually 2 to 3 hours for minor things. Depends on the hospital. Of course anything major you’d be admitted immediately.
Canada is failed country is like Nazi Germany
In the uk, waiting time for emergency is approximately 5 hours, if it's not life threatening, of course!
I was just surprised to be admitted as for the rest of my surgeries they never did.
I feel that I need to add a bit of context.
First of all, thank you for your concern and kind words. I'm feeling good now. I really appreciate you guys making the effort to leave a comment. ❤
I had a really good experience and I'm very grateful. I realise now that I didn't give enough context, and I might sound a bit impatient. I had 6 eye surgeries that were done without hospitalisation. I was really surprised that this time, I was admitted. In my mind, I just thought that it's not that serious, it's like removing a shard. 😅 I don't think the waiting time was long at all, but from this perspective and past experiences, it was different this time and therefore surprising.
I was trying to describe the hospital and my experience the best I could at the time in the hope that it might be useful for other people that come from diffrent countries and they find themselves in a similar situation and they don't know what to expect. Obviously, everyone's experience will be different. This video doesn't reflect on Greece's healthcare in general. It's just my experience.
🤗
If you have any questions or something to add please leave a comment, I'll make sure to reply to all of you!
This was a great video and I don't think you sounded impatient but rather someone who is naturally concerned about their eye. This is scary situation when you're away from your home country. Thank you for sharing your story and I'm glad you're okay!
You were fair and square in that video, its your own experience and thats what we saw. This is no advertisment, so what we all expected and need to hear were both the plus and the minus, and for that I think you did well.
I would like to add a few notes to all of this.
The doctors, nurses and all the Greek medical personnel are really well trained and most of are really good. They have seen thousands of patients. Most of the emergency visits are free and most of the health care in Greece is free or you pay a small percentage for your medical test (usually 15%, which comes out really cheap). The biggest problem is that the health care system in Greece is severely underbudget. Every major Greek hospital doesn't get enough funding and usually runs out of common supplies. The rooms and the buildings are really outdated and haven't been renovated for years and there are budget cuts every single year. The government is trying to downgrade the public health care system and make people seek medical help in the private sector. That's their major goal and they are doing it in the education system as well. Another thing to take note of, is that all major hospitals are understaffed and as a result the doctors and nurses are working really long shifts. I have 2 friends of mine that work in Greek hospitals and they have times that they work shifts longer that 24 hours when they are on emergency duty. They need to hire way more doctors and personnel, but they choose not to do so. The worst part is that if you don't go to the emergency rooms, then the wait time for really simple checkups and test might be 3+ months, so the emergency rooms are usually full with people not being in an emergency situation, but not wanting to wait 2-3+ months to get checked. Hopefully one day things will change for the best!
I am glad you had a good experience and a good outcome in your situation! Have a great stay in Crete!
Thank you so much for taking the time to add these notes! I think it's valuable for a lot of people. This seems to be very similar to what happens in Romania in health care.
In my case, everything went very well, I'm glad.
Thanks for the warming welcome!❤️
Things will never change on mainland Greece. The government screws the people, the people screw the government. And you call this democracy? Oh, not a personal attack. Greece mainland is a mess and it will never gt better. Crete should become autonomous and break away from mainland Greece.
Glad that everything went well for you.
Thank you!❤️
First of all all the best wishes for a quick recovery. I have an American friend which he did vacation in Greece. Suddenly he had some tremendous pains in his chest and he went to a hospital there and unfortunately diagnosed with a type of cancer. They told him that he need to take some pills they made him more exams and the urge him for an operation. Of course the guy few days later he packed for his country but he told me that he had the very best impression about the doctors and the hospital here. Btw he didn't paid absolutely nothing except the pills from the pharmacy he didn't had any international insurance and at the end he told me he is very greatfull for the here diagnosis, he is fine now and he can't wait to come back to Greece and even to thank the doctor's and the hospital for their care to him. I felt so proud for being Greek you know, because in usa where i live without money or private insurance they wont accept you not even in the reception. Thanks for the informative video guys and all the best to you.
Thank you very much for watching us and for taking the time to leave a comment 💙💙🙏🤗. So what do you do if you don't have insurance in USA and you end up in an emergency situation? We hope you all the best and a quick come back to Greece.
@@Sunpire everybody have private insurance here in the states for everything, even for the small things, from medical care and personal lawyer to different home insurances. Something which not exist in Greece, at least not in the level and the money amount you can have in usa. I believe if you have not private insurance to cover your emergencies your done. It's a must, I know even people who travel to Mexico or even Europe for heath care issues because it's cheaper or even free in some cases.
The healthcare in Greek Hospitals are FREE for all even without any insurance. Now about the food first they cheek your history and nurses decide what you must eat and yeap all of them have no salt thats way they are tasteless but and the food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) is also free :) I m glad you are now ok.
Thank you very much for watching our video, and for sharing with us this information about hospital 😊 🙏
There is a reason they serve that food, they have to eliminate food as a problem, they have to know precisely what you ate and maintain blood measurements correctly. It's not that the food is bad, it's just controlled.
It is not FREE without insurance. Only first aid is free.
Amalia, I hope your vision is not too impacted by the removal of the corneal ring. Crete is one of my favorite vacation spots!
Thank you for your concern! ❤️ my vision is not the best, but it could be worse. The ring was supposed to stay there😅 but it's the 3rd time coming out, so I'll have to find an alternative. I'll be fine, I'm sure.
nice , i hope ypu're doing well now !
if you ever travel out of Crete at Greece ,you have to go to Paxoi and Antipaxoi islands ...
There are some of greatest beaches at hall mediterranean.
Cheers from Kavala !
Thank you! Yes, I am good now, and thank you for the tips. We will definitely travel to other islands, but we will put here all our experiences 😊 🙏
you are lucky because the greek doctors are the best in this world
Why would you expect healthcare to be better for foreigners in the first place? If anything, it should be better for the Greek citizens. And this should stand true for all citizens of all countries.
I didn't expect that at all! Sorry if I gave that impression. I was actually trying to share my good experience with other foreign people. It might be helpful for someone. I think many of us wonder what happens if I end up in a hospital abroad, even as a tourist.
@@Sunpire I agree with the video and your intentions, but not with the title. The rest is up to you.
@@outofthebox7 Thank you!
Glad you're okay. Luck that you were able to get attentive care and that you had a bit of health care insurance. All turned out well - could have been a disaster.
Thank you for the concern ❤️ yes, I'm grateful that everything went well!
So good to hear that you had a good experience in the hospital. We too have had to visit a hospital in Greece due to an emergency and the experience exceeded all our expectations!
Yes, they were very professional 👏, our experience was very good 👍🏻. What was your experience and where in Greece?
@@Sunpire We were on the mainland in a little seaside town but the main hospital is - Kalamata. We were very impressed, I also visited a private physio one time too. It was amazing and it cost me €20!!!! We travel to this region every year.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm glad everything went well 🙏
Even the poorest most austerity riddled countries in Europe have better health care than here in America. If you can't afford health insurance and you're not over 65 or so poor that the state will pony up for insurance you are screwed. This in a country that bills itself as the richest and best.
Is it that bad in US? 😮
@@Sunpire for the very rich it is a wonderful playground of low taxes, cheap exploitable labor and anything your heart desires. For the extreme poor there are some meager programs, but for the vast majority in the lower middle classes there is little, creating instability and anxiety. The rise of trumpism and MAGA politics is a consequence of the frustrations that many experience in this very rich country.
Doesn't sound good at all...
Thank you for calling Greece "the poorest and most austerity country in Europe". Deeply appreciate it...(that was actually an irony).
@@captaingreek We might not like it, but it IS the truth. If you look up the numbers, Bulgaria will soon pass us in most of the important economic metrics.
And imagine doctors in public hospitals work for very little money.
Our government tries to destroy public health system in order for private hospitals make money. But, guess what, if there is an urgent emergency, the patients transported to the public hospitals..
That's a shame😔
I am happy this ended up well with you guys. I do not believe there are a lot of Greeks that are "very happy" with ΕΣΥ (i.e., the Greek NHS), but at least you've been lucky in this adventure of yours. Wishing you all the best with your lives in Greece.
Thank you very much 😊 🙏. I am really grateful that everything ended well 🙏
You know, Greeks are never (or almost never) happy. 9 things may go well but they will remember this one thing that went wrong.
I think this happens everywhere, we usually remember the bad things and forget about the good ones.😅
Thank you very much
Thank you 😊
Greek healthcare system is not great but it works usually.
i think that greek doctors are the best iv lived here for twelth years here and when you are ill they will check everything that maybe wrong with you compared to england where my grandmar that only had a broken leg died of a stroke because they dident even check for a bloodclot.
Thank you very much for watching us 💙💙🙏🤗, and We think you are right! Better safe than sorry
Αγάπη από Ελλάδα ❤❤
❤️❤️❤️💙🇬🇷
As a frequent traveller I am often reading a lot of reviews of hotels and restaurants online before I visit. There is an emerging trend in negative reviews for minor things and most of them come from people from eastern Europe. Anyone else noticed it? Is it a generational attitude or an eastern European attitude? or both?
I don't understand
You can get private insurance with 30-70 euro per month, covering everything i think. In that case you go to private hospitals your insurance cooperates with or any private doctor at their office.
We might do this, actually! You never know when you'll need it.
I dont know what you are talking about there are two main dishes (two for break fast and two separate for dinner) one "normal" and one that is good for most people that need a "diet" (so not sugary for diabetics etc) and there is roasted fish, pastitsio (meat and pasta and cream similar to lasagna) chiken, beef etc and obviously after doctors orders if a patient has a special need and cant eat (based on his allergies or condition) neither of the 2 options arrangements will be made, last but not least you can buy stuff from the Hospital's cafeteria.
The weekly menu is listed online in their website but I wont leave the link cause youtube doesnt let me.
Thank you very much for watching us and for advice 💙💙🙏🤗. Do you know if it is the same here in Crete?
@@Sunpire Yes I am talking about the particular hospital you visited.
E.g According to their webpage on 19/07/24 they gonna have:
Lentils with feta cheese or roasted chicken with fusilli pasta and broccoli and for dinner Penne pasta with ground beef sauce or meatballs with potatoes or beans with veggie meatballs.
When I was admitted, we all received the same food in the room, we didn’t have other options. Maybe it changed 🤔
@@Sunpire Well I am not sure about the process, I dont work there just used to study at the university next to it (not as a doctor) but maybe you could ask for the other item before serving time or it happened that they didnt have any of the other menu items left on that day and time?
Surely the cafeteria had stuff though its packed.
I think even if you didn't have insurance you wouldn't pay more than 100 euro ..dont forget guys greek doctors are in the top 10 of the world..and actually which country introduced the science of medical treatment to the world??
Yes, Greece is great 👍🏻 🇬🇷
top ten what?
You live in my country i live in yours since 2012 (married here 😀) Τhe first 2 years were difficult to be honest. Τhen everything became easier because I started to understand the language. Germany then England then Belgium then again England then France and since 2012 here in Baia Mare.... it was a culture-weather-no încet încet🤣 shock at first but in time i used to it. In a little while we hope to come back again. I am glad that you found your peace in my country. I wish you both good health cause all the rest comes second. 🌞🌞🌞
This is so interesting! Thank you for the kind words!❤️
We are from Cluj, kind of close to Baia Mare! We say 'No' all the time🤣 so for us, 'Nai' is confusing.
What do you miss the most about living in Greece?
Wish you all the best, too! Hope you have a good time in Romania!🤗
@@Sunpire I am the only Greek in the city, what I miss most is time with my friends and our weather. Of course one more thing is the easy way of our life but no worries... we will have all of them soon 🙂 Have some tsikoudia for us and noroc😀
I'm glad for you! ❤️ We'll definitely have some! Noroc!🥂
I am very glad you are still alive after being hospitalized in a Greek public hospital!
Oh God... why is that?
@@Sunpire someone who speaks greek and watch greek youtube news channels can tell. 1 of a thousant things: My ex bosses mother was today hospitalized and is in a bed in the hallway. Have private insurance and go only to private hospitals, for goodness shake.... If you want to stay safe
ari μην εισαι ολη μερα παπαρας
@@imco70 πόσο πάει το μεροκαματακι για την τρολια? Αν ειναι καλά το συζητάω.
The food depends on the reason u are admitted. Your admission was for your eye so you will get the normal menu. If you had a condition that required special food you would get that food. So what u said its not correct.
I just shared my experience 😊
Can I ask what the implant was for and will you be getting a new one?
It was a corneal ring implant, for Keratoconus. I'm not sure yet as this was my 3rd ring replacement. For now, I have to wait for my eye to heal.
How much did it cost ?
I didn't have to pay for anything!
@@Sunpire and you complain about the food? have you been in any other hospitals?
Yes! Food is just the same like everywhere else in hospitals, I meant it more in a funny way. Sorry if it sounded like a complaint !
😮
🙂
People actually getting shoked for prioritizing human or any living creature life BEFORE everything else😮😮You had to give your vow's and swear to Hippocratic oath before taking your diploma for medical practitioner in greece (i am not sure how it works now,dont kill me i left years ago)
Thank you for your comment!
the strong pain in the eye like puting a needle in your eye is usual. you cant do anything for it. i have it also
I'm sorry to hear that. The pain that I had was caused by the implant that was puncturing my eye. The pain was gone once they removed it.
Next time, use the hospitals in Athens,we serve kebab and spaghetti carbonara😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.
😂😂
αχαριστη
We are very grateful 🙏, maybe it is hard for us to express ourselves, but we are very grateful.
Αποστόλη βγάλ'την έξω για αέρα στο παρκάκι...
Tolis287. Μερικοί από τους ξένους στην ελλάδα περιμένουν να τους φερθούν, σαν να είναι ανώτερη από τους έλληνες. Ενώ στα κράτη τους για μία μικρή επέμβαση θα πρέπει να περιμένουνε το λιγότερο μισό χρόνο, και αν είσαι ξένος χωρίς ιδιωτική ασφάλεια δεν σε δέχονται καθόλου !
You had the pains for two months and waited till your vacation? Thas not very smart.
I moved here, I wasn't on holiday.
Fakelaki is called the extra tip to the doctors. My sister was working in a hospital in Greece as a doctor and she run away after 4 years. Very unrealistic video, or you were extremely lucky...
I had a very good experience overall, but it might not be the same for everyone, though.
This is issue from people who want to give, not from hospital
@@Sunpire If you go to the A&E in a major hospital in Athens, it will be like a battle zone with all that this entails. For an eye issue in a major university hospital but outside Athens, it is not unreasonable for the vibe to be more civilised.
You can’t have something for free
And expecting five star service,
That is correct. It was a great experience, and we are very grateful for it 🙏
You didn’t pay a dime and you complain about the food? In your country they would give you a filet mignon ? 😂 have you ever heard of hospital food? Common.. anyway I wish you speedy recovery.
Thank you! I wasn't complaining. I just tried to explain how the situation was so others could know what to expect. 😊
I am familiar with hospital food. However, other people are not.
In Greece we have one beautiful word that is filoxenia (φιλοξενία) and it was an institution for the ancients to welcome and treat strangers in their home. They particularly believed in the idea of hospitality and considered it a moral duty and a sacred rule of the Gods (Xenios Zeus was the patron). That is why foreigners, as sent by the Gods, were considered holy, honored and respected persons. Sorry for the poor facilities or the medium hospital food, but we are already a bankrupted country, the same country that created the foundations for the modern civilized society... Anyway, have a nice time, healthy, happy and wealth in spirit, not only in pockets!
Thank you very much for watching us and for advice 💙💙🙏🤗
Ahh man we ended up in Chania emergency room last week was ugh well lets say i love the area buuuuuut.😮
What was wrong? 😱
@Sunpire Mom passed out at elafonissi beach and had to get ambulance to Chania ER.
I'm so sorry to hear that 😔 . Hope everything is ok.
Was this a private hospital ?
No, this was the hospital in Heraklion, Crete. From what we know, it was not a private one.