Irresponsiveness of the Greek health system to the needs of refugees and migrants: in search of a novel transformative health policy approach
Περίληψη
Η Υγεία Προσφύγων και Μεταναστών αποτελεί μείζονα πρόκληση για τις χώρες υποδοχής και τα συστήματα υγείας τους, λόγω της ευαλωτότητας και της ποικιλομορφίας των πληθυσμών σε μετακίνηση. Ο ΠΟΥ προτείνει τέσσερα μοντέλα φροντίδας για την κάλυψη των υγειονομικών αναγκών των ΠΜ. Παρότι η Ελλάδα φιλοξενεί σημαντικό αριθμό ΠΜ για πάνω από μία δεκαετία, το Εθνικό Σύστημα Υγείας (ΕΣΥ) παρουσιάζει περιορισμένη προσαρμογή, χωρίς να έχει υιοθετήσει ένα σαφές ή μικτό μοντέλο φροντίδας. Αυτό οφείλεται, μεταξύ άλλων, στη συνύπαρξη διαρθρωτικών αδυναμιών του ΕΣΥ, στην απουσία εθνικής στρατηγικής για την υγεία των ΠΜ και σε περιοριστικές μεταναστευτικές πολιτικές, που δυσχεραίνουν την πρόσβαση στην περίθαλψη και επηρεάζουν αρνητικά τους κοινωνικούς προσδιοριστές υγείας. Υπό αυτό το πρίσμα, απαιτείται επειγόντως μια μετασχηματιστική πολιτική υγείας με έμφαση: στην ενίσχυση του συστήματος υγείας με συμπερίληψη των ΠΜ, στην υιοθέτηση εθνικής στρατηγικής υγείας ΠΜ και στην ανατροπή των περιοριστικών μεταναστευτικών πολιτικών.
Λεπτομέρειες άρθρου
- Πώς να δημιουργήσετε Αναφορές
-
Puchner , K. P. (2026). Irresponsiveness of the Greek health system to the needs of refugees and migrants: in search of a novel transformative health policy approach. Κοινωνική Πολιτική, 20, 30–44. https://doi.org/10.12681/sp.44571
- Τεύχος
- Τόμ. 20 (2026)
- Ενότητα
- Άρθρα
Αυτή η εργασία είναι αδειοδοτημένη υπό το CC Αναφορά Δημιουργού 4.0.
Οι συγγραφείς των άρθρων που δημοσιεύονται στο περιοδικό διατηρούν τα δικαιώματα πνευματικής ιδιοκτησίας επί των άρθρων τους, δίνοντας στο περιοδικό το δικαίωμα της πρώτης δημοσίευσης. Άρθρα που δημοσιεύονται στο περιοδικό διατίθενται με άδεια Creative Commons 4.0 και σύμφωνα με την άδεια μπορούν να χρησιμοποιούνται ελεύθερα, με αναφορά στο/στη συγγραφέα και στην πρώτη δημοσίευση για μη κερδοσκοπικούς σκοπούς και με δικαίωμα τροποποίησης μόνον με παρόμοια διανομή (αν αναμείξετε, τροποποιήσετε, ή δημιουργήσετε πάνω στο υλικό, πρέπει να διανείμετε τις δικές σας συνεισφορές υπό την ίδια άδεια όπως και το πρωτότυπο).
Λήψεις
Τα δεδομένα λήψης δεν είναι ακόμη διαθέσιμα.
Αναφορές
Abbas, M., Aloudat, T., Bartolomei, J. et al. (2018). “Migrant and refugee populations: a public health and policy perspective on a continuing global crisis.”, Antimicrob Resist Infect Control, 7, 113.
Ahmadinia, H., Eriksson-Backa, K. and Nikou, S. (2022), “Health-seeking behaviours of immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees in Europe: a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles”, Journal of Documentation, Vol. 78 No. 7, pp. 18-41.
Asylum Information Database report 2023. AIDA-GR_2023-Update.pdf. Available at: https://asylumineurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AIDA-GR_2023-Update.pdf (Accessed: 11 October 2025).
Arsenijević J, Burtscher D, Ponthieu A, Severy N, Contenta A, Moissaing S, et al. (2018). ““I feel like I am less than other people”: Health-related vulnerabilities of male migrants travelling alone on their journey to Europe.”, Soc Sci Med.,209, pp. 86–94.
Baauw A, Kist-van Holthe J, Slattery B, Heymans M, Chinapaw M, van Goudoever H. (2019). “Health needs of refugee children identified on arrival in reception countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.”, BMJ Paediatr Open., 3(1):e000516.
Board D, Childs S, Boulton R. (2020). “Torture-survivors’ experiences of healthcare services for pain: a qualitative study.” British Journal of Pain., 15(3), pp. 291-301.
Bonifazi, C., Mamolo, M. (2004). “Past and current trends of Balkan migrations.”, Espace Populations Sociétés, 2004/3, pp. 519–531.
Bozorgmehr K, Razum O. (2015). “Effect of Restricting Access to Health Care on Health Expenditures among Asylum-Seekers and Refugees: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Germany, 1994-2013.”, PLoS One, 22;10(7):e0131483.
Bronsino M, Castagneri C, Spinazzola M, Pepe RR, Sacerdote C, Ricceri F. (2020). “‘Journey of hope’: a study on sexual gender-based violence reported by asylum-seeking women during their journey to Europe.” Epidemiol Prev, 44(5–6 Suppl 1), pp. 102–6.
Canova, C., Dansero, L., Destefanis, C. et al. (2024). “Assessing the health status of migrants upon arrival in Europe: a systematic review of the adverse impact of migration journeys.”, Global Health, 20, 69.
CARE International. (2017). Transitioning to a government-run refugee and migrant response in Greece. https://www.care-international.org/resources/transitioning-government-run-refugee-and-migrant-response-greece. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Castañeda, H. et al. (2015). “Immigration as a social determinant of health”, Annual Review of Public Health, 36, pp. 375–392.
Centre for Gender Rights and Equality DIOTIMA. (2024, June 18). “Letter of concern for the continuation of the PHILOS II programme.” Retrieved from https://diotima.org.gr/en/letter-of-concern-for-the-continuation-of-the-philos-ii-program/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Chiarenza, A., Dauvrin, M., Chiesa, V. et al. (2019). “Supporting access to healthcare for refugees and migrants in European countries under particular migratory pressure.”, BMC Health Serv Res, 19, 513.
Chouzouraki, A. (2024). “It does not feel like real life”: Children’s everyday life in Greek refugee camps.” Greek Council for Refugees & Save the Children Europe. Retrieved from https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/it-does-not-feel-like-real-life-childrens-everyday-life-in-greek-refugee-camps/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Commission on Social Determinants of Health. (2008). Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-IER-CSDH-08.1. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Desipris, G., Kapaki, V., & Kotsopoulos, N. (2022). “Health related quality of life of refugees, and barriers to their access to healthcare services.”, Archives of Hellenic Medicine, 39(6), 790–796.
Doignon, Y., Blöss-Widmer, I., Ambrosetti, E., Oliveau, S. (2023). “The Mediterranean migration system.”, Population dynamics in the Mediterranean, Springer International Publishing.
Economou, C., Kaitelidou, D., Karanikolos, M., & Maresso, A. (2017). “Greece: Health system review.”, Health Systems in Transition, 19(5), pp. 1–166.
European Court of Human Rights. (2023, October 5). “E.F. v. Greece (Application no. 12345/20).” Retrieved from https://www.hias.org/statements/european-court-human-rights-unanimously-condemns-greek-government-depriving-hiv-positive-asylum-seeker-access-antiretroviral-treatment/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
European Council on Refugees and Exiles. (2023, May). “Forgotten vulnerability: Greece’s systematic failure to identify and certify victims of torture.” https://ecre.org/op-ed-forgotten-vulnerability-greeces-systematic-failure-to-identify-and-certify-victims-of-torture/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
European Council on Refugees and Exiles. (2024). AIDA country report on Greece – 2023 update. https://asylumineurope.org/reports/country/greece. Accessed May 30, 2025.
European Council on Refugees and Exiles (2024). “Reception Conditions in Greece." Asylum Information Database”. https://asylumineurope.org/reports/country/greece/reception-conditions/.
Accessed May 30, 2025.
European Council on Refugees and Exiles. (2024, December 5). “GREECE: Greek authorities accused of yet another maritime pushback — Investigation reveals that Greek authorities knew that ‘Pylos 9’ were not human traffickers — UNHCR expresses concern about deaths in Aegean — UN raises concerns about identification and protection of victims of human trafficking in migration centre in Samos — Protests in refugee camps over lack of interpreters.” https://ecre.org/greece-greek-authorities-accused-of-yet-another-maritime-pushback-%E2%80%95-investigation-reveals-that-greek-authorities-knew-that-pylos-9-were-not-human-traffickers-%E2%80%95/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Fair F, Soltani H, Raben L, van Streun Y, Sioti E, Papadakaki M, Burke C, et al. (2021). “Midwives' experiences of cultural competency training and providing perinatal care for migrant women a mixed methods study: Operational Refugee and Migrant Maternal Approach (ORAMMA) project.”, BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 21(1):340.
Fouskas, T., Sidiropoulos, S., & Vozikis, A. (2019). “Leaving no one out? Public health aspects of migration: Health risks, responses and accessibility by asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Greece.”, International Journal of Health Research and Innovation, 7(1), pp. 13–28.
Gemi, E., & Feta, B. (2024). Migration developments in Greece in 2023. Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). https://www.eliamep.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Working-paper-128-SOPEMI-2.pdf. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Gottlieb, N., Filc, D., & Davidovitch, N. (2020). “The role of public-private partnerships in extending public healthcare provision to irregular migrants: stopgap or foot in the door?”, Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 9(1), 48.
Grammatikopoulou, Maria G, Xenophon Theodoridis, Dimitrios Poulimeneas, Maria I Maraki, et al. (2019). “Malnutrition Surveillance among Refugee Children Living in Reception Centres in Greece: A Pilot Study.” International Health 11 (1): 30–35.
Gunst, M., Jarman, K., Yarwood, V., Rokadiya, S., Capsaskis, L., Orcutt, M., & Abbara, A. (2019). “Healthcare access for refugees in Greece: Challenges and opportunities.”, Health Policy, 123(9), pp. 818–824.
Hodes, M., Vasquez, M. M., Anagnostopoulos, D., Triantafyllou, K., Abdelhady, D., et al. (2018). “Refugees in Europe: National overviews from key countries with a special focus on child and adolescent mental health.”, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(4), 389–399.
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. (2024, November 21). The Clinic consolidates the model of comprehensive care for sexual violence, with a high level of engagement in outpatient follow-up programmes in a context of growing demand. https://www.clinicbarcelona.org/en/news/the-clinic-consolidates-the-model-of-comprehensive-care-for-sexual-violence-with-a-high-level-of-engagement-in-outpatient-follow-up-programmes-in-a-context-of-growing-demand. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Human Rights Watch. (2022, July 8). “European Court slams Greece over deadly migrant pushback. Human Rights Watch.” https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/07/08/european-court-slams-greece-over-deadly-migrant-pushback . Accessed May 30, 2025.
International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). (2025). Migration Outlook 2025: Mediterranean. ICMPD. https://www.icmpd.org/publications/icmpd-migration-outlook. Accessed May 30, 2025.
International Organization for Migration. (2009). “Migration: A social determinant of the health of migrants. Migration Health Research Portal.” https://migrationhealthresearch.iom.int/migration-social-determinant-health-migrants. Accessed May 30, 2025.
International Organization for Migration (2019). “Setting up a road map for mixed migration in West and North Africa. International Organization for Migration”. https://rodakar.iom.int/resources/setting-road-map-mixed-migration-west-and-north-africa-0.
Accessed May 30, 2025.
International Organization for Migration. (2024). “Mixed migration flows to Europe: Quarterly overview, Q2 2024.” https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/situation_reports/file/Mixed-Migration-Flows-to-Europe-Q2-2024.pd. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Joseph, L., Ismail, S. A., Gunst, M., Jarman, K., Prior, D., Harris, M., & Abbara, A. (2020). “A qualitative research study which explores humanitarian stakeholders’ views on healthcare access for refugees in Greece.”, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 6972.
Kanellis, G. (2025). Refugee Protection in Greece: Compliance Challenges and Legal Obligations Under European and International Law. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5176149 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5176149
Kent, J. (2021). “Looking back and moving forward: the research agenda on the global governance of mixed migration.”, International Migration, 59(1), pp. 89–104.
Kentikelenis, A., Karanikolos, M., Reeves, A., McKee, M., & Stuckler, D. (2014). “Greece’s health crisis: From austerity to denialism.”, The Lancet, 383(9918), pp. 748–753.
King, R. (1996). “Migration and development in the Mediterranean region.”, Geography, 81(1), pp. 3–14.
Kondylis, H., & Benos, A. (2023). The evolution of healthcare personnel in the hospitals of the National Health System (NHS) before and during the pandemic. Centre for Research and Education in Public Health, Health Policy, and Primary Health Care (KEPY). Retrieved from https://www.healthpolicycenter.gr/el/publications/i-ekseliksi-tou-ygeionomikoy-prosopikoy-sta-nosokomeia-tou-e-s-y-prin-kai-kata-ti-diarkeia-tis-pandimias. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Kondylis, H., Oikonomou, C., and A. Benos. 2024. The Lost Surgeries in the National Health System (NHS) and the "Free" Afternoon Surgeries Funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund. Centre for Research and Education in Public Health, Health Policy, and Primary Health Care (KEPY). https://www.healthpolicycenter.gr/el/publications/i-xamenes-xeirourgikes-epemvaseis-sto-esy-kai-ta-dorean-apogeymatina-xeirourgeia-toy-tameioy-anakampsis-kai-anthektikotitas. Accessed June 1, 2025.
Kotsiou, O., Kotsios, P., Srivastava, D., Kotsios, V., Gourgoulianis, K., & Exadaktylos, A. (2018). Impact of the refugee crisis on the Greek healthcare system: A long road to Ithaca. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), 1790.
Lebano, A., Hamed, S., Bradby, H. et al. (2020). “Migrants’ and refugees’ health status and healthcare in Europe: a scoping literature review.”, BMC Public Health, 20, 1039.
Levecque, K.; Lodewyckx, I.; Vranken, J. (2007). “Depression and generalised anxiety in the general population in Belgium: A comparison between native and immigrant groups.”, J. Affect. Disord., 97, 229–239.
Liapi, M., Giannopoulou, C., Tyrovolas, T., Kountouri-Tsami, E., & Saratsi, S. (2019). “Final research report on accessibility and barriers to gender-based violence services for refugee and migrant girls, boys, women, and men in Greece.”, Centre for Research on Women’s Issues (CRWI) Diotima. https://diotima.org.gr/en/final-report-research-on-accessibility-and-barriers-to-gender-based-violence-services-for-refugee-and-migrant-girls-boys-women-and-men-in-greece/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
McAuliffe, M. and B. Khadria. (2020). World Migration Report 2020, IOM 2019
Mellou Kassiani, Chrysovalantis S., Saranti-Papasaranti E., Koustenis A., Pavlopoulou I. D., Georgakopoulou T., Botsi C., & Terzidis A. (2019). “Increasing childhood vaccination coverage of the refugee and migrant population in Greece through the European programme PHILOS”, Euro Surveillance, 24(27), pii=1800326.
Mesnard, A., Savatic, F., Senne, J.-N. and Thiollet, H. (2024). “Revolving Doors: How Externalization Policies Block Refugees and Deflect Other Migrants across Migration Routes.”, Population and Development Review, 50, pp. 607-642.
Ministry of Labour and Social Security. (2024). “Activation of the active/inactive AMKA system begins.” https://ypergasias.gov.gr/xekina-i-leitourgia-tou-energou-anenergou-amka/. Accessed: February 18, 2025
Mirzoev T, Kane S. (2017). “What is health systems responsiveness? Review of existing knowledge and proposed conceptual framework.”, BMJ Glob Health, 2:e000486.
Mixed Migration Centre. (2020). “Mixed Migration Review 2020: Mixed migration and cities. Urban frontlines for displacement and mobility.” https://www.bosch-stiftung.de/en/publication/mixed-migration-review-2020-0
Myloneros, T., & Sakellariou, D. (2021). “The effectiveness of primary health care reforms in Greece towards achieving universal health coverage: A scoping review.”, BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 628.
National Public Health Organization (EODY). (2023). “Protocol for managing incidents of gender-based violence in the migration and refugee context [Πρωτόκολλο Διαχείρισης Περιστατικών Έμφυλης Βίας στο Μεταναστευτικό - Προσφυγικό Περιβάλλον]”. National Public Health Organization (EODY).
C. Nisbet, K.E. Lestrat, H. Vatanparast. (2022). “Food Security Interventions among Refugees around the Globe: A Scoping Review”, Nutrients, 14 (3): 522.
Puchner K, Karamagioli E, Pikouli A, Tsiamis C, Kalogeropoulos A, Kakalou E, Pavlidou E, Pikoulis E. (2018). “Time to Rethink Refugee and Migrant Health in Europe: Moving from Emergency Response to Integrated and Individualized Health Care Provision for Migrants and Refugees”, Int J Environ Res Public Health,15(6):1100.
Puchner KP, Giannakou V, Veizis A, Bougioukas K, Hargreaves S, Benos A, Kondilis E. (2024). “COVID-19 vaccination roll-out and uptake among refugees and migrants in Greece: a retrospective analysis of national vaccination routine data.”, Public Health, 229, pp. 84-87.
Refugee Support Aegean. (2019). “Structural Failure: Why Greece’s Reception System Failed to Provide Sustainable Solutions.” https://rsaegean.org/en/why-greece-s-reception-systems-failed-to-provide-durable-solutions/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Refugee Support Aegean. (2025). “Recognised refugees in Greece – 2025: Beneficiaries of international protection in Greece. Access to documents and socio-economic rights.” https://rsaegean.org/en/recognised-refugees-in-greece-2025/ . Accessed May 30, 2025.
Reuters. (2025). “Greece Drafts Tougher Law for Rejected Asylum Seekers, PM Says.” May 28, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/greece-drafts-tougher-law-rejected-asylum-seekers-pm-says-2025-05-28/.
Robinson A, Musotsi P, Khan ZRA, Nellums L, Faiq B, Broadhurst K, Renolds G, Pritchard M, Smith A. (2025). “Opportunities and practices supporting responsive health care for forced migrants: lessons from transnational practice and a mixed-methods systematic review.”, Health Soc Care Deliv Res., (13):1-182.
Savas ST, Knipper M, Duclos D, Sharma E, Ugarte-Gurrutxaga MI, Blanchet K. (2024). “Migrant-sensitive healthcare in Europe: advancing health equity through accessibility, acceptability, quality, and trust.”, Lancet Reg Health Eur, 41:100805.
Tramountanis, A. (2022). “Pathways to Integration and Dis-integration: An Assessment of the Greek Immigration Policy for the Inclusion of Immigrants, Applicants and Beneficiaries of International Protection.” In Challenging Mobilities in and to the EU during Times of Crises: The Case of Greece, edited by Maria Kousis, Aspasia Chatzidaki, and Konstantinos Kafetsios, 157–173. Springer.
Tsiakalakis, G., Golna, C., Dedes, N., Athanasakis, K., & Souliotis, K. (2021). “HIV patient access to healthcare services in post-austerity era in Greece”, International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 13(1), 1–11.
Shahin W, Stupans I, Kennedy G. (2021). “Health beliefs and chronic illnesses of refugees: a systematic review.”, Ethn Health, 26(5), pp. 756-768.
Support for Torture Victims. “Support for Torture Victims.”, Support for Torture Victims, https://www.torturevictims.ch/en/ . Accessed 1 June 2025.
Van der Klaauw J. (2010). “Refugee Rights in Times of Mixed Migration: Evolving Status and Protection Issues.”, Refugee Survey Quarterly, 28 (4), pp. 59–86.
Ververidou, F., & Hervey, T. (2024). “Securing the right to health of asylum seekers: A small-scale qualitative case study in Thessaloniki, Greece”, Health and Human Rights, 26(2), 91–104.
Vlachopoulos, K., & Christou, K. (2023). Migration Under the Lens: The portrayal of migrants and refugees in the Greek media. Greek Council for Refugees. Retrieved from https://gcr.gr/en/gcr-reports/item/migration-under-the-lens/. Accessed May 30, 2025.
vom Dahl, F., Weng, Á., Vergara Guerra, M., et al. (2024). “Provision of sexual and reproductive health care services for refugees in Greece in the framework of the Minimum Initial Service Package: A scoping review.”, Discov Health Systems, 3, 41.
Vouliwatch. (2023, August 31). Mitsotakis: “It is certain that the fire in Evros was started by a human hand – It started from migrant routes.” Vouliwatch. https://tinyurl.com/nav45vyv. Accessed May 30, 2025.
Waerp, E. (2024). “Devious refugees and harmless borders? How Frontex inverts deviance and blame.”, Race & Class, 66(4), pp. 71-78.
World Health Organization, and Ministry of Health of Greece. (2019). “Greece: Assessing Health Systems Capacity to Manage Large Influx of Refugees and Migrants in an Evolving Context.” https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/337563/9789289055093-eng.pdf. Accessed May 30, 2025.
World Health Organization. (2021). “Mapping health systems’ responsiveness to refugee and migrant health needs.” https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240030640
Zimmerman, C., Kiss, L., Hossain, M. (2011). “Migration and health: A framework for 21st century policy-making.”, PLoS Med, 8, e1001034.
