Rise in user fees in Greece could reduce access to healthcare, charity warns

Concern is growing in Greece that the rise in user fees announced by the minister of health last week could reduce access of many cash strapped and vulnerable groups to public hospitals and primary care clinics.

“Measures like this are no way to facilitate access to health,” said Rebecca Papadopoulos, head of Médecins Sans Frontières in Greece. “The population is already in crisis because of the tough austerity measures.”

On 4 January Andreas Loverdos, the minister of health and social solidarity, announced that the charge for morning visits to outpatient …