How Greece can keep its doctors: education access and state support
Greece trains doctors and then loses many of them. Students also go abroad for degrees taught in English. This page collects the figures and the proposals, so that doctors, students and officials can discuss the same facts.
How many Greek doctors leave the country?
The Athens Medical Association reports about 5,400 doctors who left between 2020 and 2025: 901 in 2020, 866 in 2021, 808 in 2022, 808 in 2023, 1,047 in 2024 and 968 in 2025. The United Kingdom was the main destination every year, and Cyprus usually second. These are counts of certificates issued, not a full census.
Why do they leave?
The Association names better working conditions, high-level training, organised health systems, clear career prospects and pay that matches qualifications. Public-sector pay figures and the reported 72-hour working week of young doctors support the same picture.
Why do Greek students study abroad?
About 40,000 Greek students study abroad according to figures cited by Ta Nea in September 2024, mostly at postgraduate level, with Cyprus the largest destination. The same report says interest in Bulgaria revived among students from Northern Greece for undergraduate health degrees. We found no exact count of Greek medical students in Bulgaria.
What has Greece already changed?
Law 5243/2025 (Government Gazette A 187, 31 October 2025) extended automatic recognition of medical specialties to qualifications from Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand, after the United States. Four Greek universities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Crete and Thessaly) have opened English-language medical degrees, and the 2026 ESY calls add posts with an extra 1,500 euro net per month in some places.
What do medical bodies propose?
The Athens Medical Association asks for pay closer to international levels, more residency posts, a modernised training system with full rotations and continuous evaluation, international partnerships with European and US institutions, a more stable work environment and career progression tied to scientific development.
What are the counter-arguments?
Higher pay and more posts cost public money, and some argue that incentives for remote posts help only if housing, schools and equipment follow. Others say recognition rules must keep patient safety checks. Any proposal should be judged on cost and on evidence from countries that tried it.
What about foreign-trained doctors already in Greece?
They are part of the same workforce question: clear recognition steps, predictable specialty placement and Greek-language support help them stay. Iatrós supports the exam preparation part and is not affiliated with ΔΟΑΤΑΠ or the Ministry.
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Iatrós is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with ΔΟΑΤΑΠ. Check official announcements for exam rules and dates. Last updated 2026-10-31. Contact: [email protected]