Problems and perspectives in health care policy in Greece

There were significant developments in the health care sector in Greece during the last two decades. A National Health System was created to provide comprehensive care for all, free of charge. This caused an expansion in public health spending during a lasting recession period of the Greek economy. At the same time, the existing inefficient method of financing services was not changed. As a result, many regulations were never implemented and problems such as escalating costs, equity and quality appeared. In attempting to give a perspective for the Greek health system an Alliance (Common Fund) on the demand side, exericising its monopsonistic power and a managed competition scheme on the supply side is proposed. These proposals may contribute to a more efficient and effective delivery of health care than the existing one.