Last update:
15-Jul-2026

OBJECTIVE Το investigate socioeconomic inequalities in access to healthcare and quality of life in Greece, focusing on the factors associated with unmet healthcare needs.

ΜETHOD A quantitative analysis was conducted on a sample of 712 individuals from the general population. Quality of life was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L instrument, while unmet healthcare needs were recorded through a structured questionnaire. Data collection took place between January and April 2024.

RESULTS A total of 47% of participants reported at least one unmet healthcare need. The main reasons were cost (20.2%) and long waiting lists (22.5%). Women, retirees, individuals with lower education, and those with chronic illnesses were more likely to report barriers to access. Psychological distress was highly prevalent: 81.2% reported some level of anxiety/depression, while 43% experienced pain or discomfort. Poor self-reported health was strongly associated with access barriers (e.g., odds ratio [OR] for distance=3.69, p<0.001). Additionally, individuals with poor health were more likely to distrust the healthcare system (OR=4.29, p=0.011) and to report lack of access to oncology care (OR=7.72, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS The findings confirm that socioeconomic inequalities disproportionately affect access to healthcare services in Greece. Targeted policy measures −such as increasing public funding, strengthening primary healthcare, and adopting digital technologies− are essential to address these challenges and promote health equity and sustainable development.

Key words: Greece, Health equity, Health services accessibility, Quality of life, Unmet healthcare needs.