Medicine in Greece and spa resorts

In general, the medical system in Greece is at a fairly high level - there are many specialized educational institutions and hospitals with clinics in the country, even on a very small island. An important difference from many countries that are part of the European Union is that almost all specialists speak English (for example, in France or Italy, English-speaking doctors are much less common), and in the tourism sector, you can meet a doctor who can speak relatively well in Russian. , is no longer as exotic as it used to be. For example, a Russian-speaking doctor came to our compatriots vacationing with a child in Crete an hour after the call and independently settled all insurance formalities.

However, the work of the Greek government, headed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, has led his country to difficult times - only at the beginning of this year, for the first time in ten years, an increase in the minimum wage in the country was announced, so not every Greek can use the services of paid medicine. About 80% of the working population of the country is entitled to free medical care, monthly deducting the corresponding amount to a special insurance fund. Sometimes it also happens that the employer pays the insurance for its employees in whole or in part. Since the level of free medicine that can be used by the vast majority of the population is rather low, progress has only begun in the last few years.

Most of the serious medical centers (about 80% of institutions) are located in Athens and Thessaloniki, so it makes sense to come to these two largest cities in Greece for the treatment of serious diseases. An interesting fact is that Greece is one of the European leaders in the number of pharmacies per capita - they are located in almost every building. Due to their prevalence and financial difficulties with getting to a doctor in a polyclinic, many local residents are content with mild illnesses with the advice of pharmacists, who usually work at pharmacies for a long time, however, potent drugs, as in most countries, can only be purchased with a prescription from a doctor. with the obligatory indication of the international pharmaceutical name of the drug.

Foreigners most often in Greece, if it is not only about sea holidays, prefer the local thermal resorts, which offer treatment for almost all possible diseases, both as a basic and supportive option.

Edipsos

Fans of island holidays on the Aegean Sea will surely enjoy the thermal waters of Edipsos, a town on Euboea, the second largest island in Greece after Crete. The healing properties of the local water were sung by the writers of Ancient Greece. Due to the high content of iron, calcium, magnesium and high water temperature, successful treatment of rheumatological pathologies, arthritis, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, chronic inflammation and general pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, migraines, skin and gynecological diseases is observed.

Loutra Pozar

For those who want to be not very far from the metropolis or prefer to ski and at the same time have access to medicinal water, it makes sense to opt for the Loutra Pozar resort, 90 km from Thessaloniki. The thermal resort has a pool with cold and hot water, as well as a waterfall that acts as a natural massage therapist for vacationers. It is best to recover here for those who have problems with the cardiovascular and respiratory system, and also suffer from rheumatism.

Loutraki

Similar in sound to its predecessor resort, Loutraki is undoubtedly of great fame, as the water of this source is sold in stores and served in many Greek restaurants and is not inferior in quality to the French Vichy. The resort, considered the oldest spa center in Greece, is located on the Perachora Peninsula on the shores of the Corinthian Gulf of the Ionian Sea , 84 kilometers from Athens and 4 kilometers from Corinth. Water diet and physiotherapy in Loutraki are used to treat pathologies of the cardiovascular, nervous systems and gastrointestinal tract, liver failure, as well as skin, gynecological and joint diseases.

Vouliagmeni

If there is a need and desire to stay in Athens, or if you need a vacation on the waters not far from the Greek capital, then the best solution would be to stay in the town of Vouliagmeni in Attica, located on the coast of the sea bay, from where the lake of the same name is very close. In these parts there are many houses that serve as summer cottages for the capital Greeks - just half an hour's journey and the picture of the metropolis completely changes into a balneological resort. The local waters are quite cool - they have a temperature of about 25 degrees and are used mainly for baths for diseases of the organs of movement and support, as well as peripheral nerves.

Kamena-Vourla

The famous resort of the central part of Greece, located 160 km from Athens, is known not only for the healing properties of the local water, which allows you to defeat rheumatic diseases, neuralgitis, neuritis, disorders of the nervous system and pulmonary diseases, but also to relax in a variety of ways. The resort has many theaters and museums, all conditions are created for fans of rock climbing, long-distance mountain hiking and water sports, local beaches are marked with blue flags, and the nightlife never ceases to be in full swing. This is a rare balneological resort not only in terms of the composition of the local water, but also in terms of the variety of recreation options.