- Authors: Craveiro I, Dussault G
- Publication Year: 2016
- Journal: O Público e o Privado
Greece faces various problems, including an aging population, declining of natural growth, migration and the refugee crisis, representing considerable challenges for the future of the health care system. The Greek health system can be characterized as a mixed system (public-private) where the compulsory social insurance (IKA) and a voluntary private health insurance system co-exist with the National Health Service (ESY- Ethniko Systima Ygeias). In 2011 it was created the National Organization of Health Services (EOPYY). The country is under foreign aid since 2010, and the health sector was considered “an important factor” in the country’s uncontrolled economy, which is under intense scrutiny from the Troika. The health system accumulates structural problems for more than a decade, which were exacerbated by the crisis. In this economic, social and legislative framework, based on the review of the recently published literature, we present the Greek experience regarding citizen participation practices in the definition of health policy in Greece. According to the evidence, the reforms undertaken in the Greek health system seems to focus on the operational dimensions, and financial management, ignoring the citizens or the perspective of a health system patient-centered. So there is still scope for policy makers to promote mechanisms for citizen participation.