Objective: To explore factors influencing the utilization of primary and secondary healthcare in Greece. Methods: A national, geographically stratified sample was randomly selected. From November 2001 to March 2002, 5000 questionnaires were mailed, 4427 were actually received, and 1819 were completed and returned (response rate 41%). The questionnaire investigated respondents' characteristics and their health services utilization. A number of potential utilization determinants were explored, such as region, gender, age, education, income, insurance coverage, number of family members, self-rated health status, country of birth, and parents' country of birth. Results: The utilization of primary healthcare services depended on self-rated health status, age, income, gender, and region. Individuals with moderate and poor self-rated health, older people, women, and residents of the region of Epirus showed increased utilization of primary healthcare services. Income was a factor affecting the utilization of primary healthcare only at lower income levels. The frequency of visits for primary healthcare was negatively correlated with self-rated health status and increased as self-evaluation of health status worsened. Hospitalization was associated with self-rated health and insurance coverage for primary healthcare. Individuals with better self-rated health status, as well as those who were covered by health insurance for primary care, showed decreased hospital care utilization. The frequency of hospitalization depended on region and lower evaluations of health status.Conclusion: The findings of our research are encouraging, since they suggest that the utilization of health services in Greece is mostly determined by health status rather than other socioeconomic factors. It is believed that similar studies should be conducted in the country, since they can improve health service planning and reinforce decision-making towards healthcare resource allocation according to healthcare needs.

Self-rated health

Household income

10.1080/13814780701541340

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Cost-Effectiveness of Sitagliptin Compared to Sulphonylurea as an Add-on to Metformin in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Greece

Value in Health (2015)

Kostas Athanasakis J Zhuo JUSTIN CHEN N. Boubouchairopoulou F Tarantilis

10.1016/j.jval.2015.09.2102

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Citations (2)

Table of Contents

Value in Health Regional Issues (2020)

Omar Maoujoud Samir Ahid P. Naoum Kostas Athanasakis Anastasis Skroumpelos

Table (database)

10.1016/s2212-1099(20)30636-1

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Self-medication in Greece: the financial impact from expanding the OTC market

International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (2021)

V. Naoum Nikos K. Nomikos P. Naoum Kostas Athanasakis John Kyriopoulos

To assess the financial impact of self-medication enhancement through a potential expansion of the over-the-counter (OTC) drug list in Greece.An analysis consisting of two scenarios was conducted. The first scenario estimated the financial effects of hypothetically switching 5% of the volume of the total sales of reimbursed drugs in Greece to OTC, while the second scenario estimated the effects of switching to OTC the total sales volume of a set of active substances (which are currently reimbursed), facilitated by a consensus panel meeting. The analysis was conducted from the third-party payer, individual and societal perspectives. Data and costs refer to the year 2019.Switching 5% of the volume of the total sales of reimbursed drugs to OTC was estimated to lead to total annual savings of 227.57 million euros. The annual savings from the third-party payer, individual and societal perspectives were estimated at 97.06 million euros, 91.81 million euros and 38.69 million euros, respectively. Switching the total sales volume of the reimbursed drugs of the active substances which emerged from the consensus panel meeting was estimated to lead to total annual savings of 567.57 million euros. The annual savings for the third-party payer, individuals and society were estimated at 232.91 million euros, 241.01 million euros and 93.65 million euros, respectively.Although the present analysis is model-based, and thus did not incorporate some potentially significant parameters, it demonstrated the financial savings which a potential expansion of the OTC drug list could produce for the third-party payer, individuals and society in Greece.

Euros

10.1093/ijpp/riab066

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Citations (3)

Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Chronic Condition Patients in Greece

Value in Health (2014)

A. Skroumpelos Elpida Pavi S. Pasaloglou John Kyriopoulos

Austerity

Chronic condition

10.1016/j.jval.2014.08.1511

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Citations (8)