Secondary Health Care
Secondary Health Care is the next level of care after Primary Health Care (P.H.C.). It is provided in hospital structures and mainly concerns services and medical procedures that require patient hospitalization. The primary purpose of Secondary Health Care is the immediate and effective diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with conditions that cannot be managed by P.H.C. To achieve this, emphasis is placed on the continuous improvement of service quality, the strengthening of medical research, and effective collaboration with P.H.C. to ensure better service for citizens.
Structures of Secondary Health Care
Secondary Health Care structures consist of a network of public hospitals and healthcare facilities that provide hospital‑based services. The country’s hospitals are organized into Health Regions (Y.PE.) according to their geographical distribution. They are located throughout both mainland and island Greece, ensuring optimal coverage of the population’s healthcare needs.
These hospitals are equipped to provide a wide range of medical treatments and procedures. Their organization is divided into four main services (Government Gazette 123A/ Law 2071/1992 / Article 56):
- Medical service
- Nursing service
- Administrative service
- Technical service
The medical service includes doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and other scientists who provide necessary healthcare services to patients.
A key pillar of hospital operation is the Outpatient Clinics, which serve numerous external patients for examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Outpatient clinics are organized into departments (Government Gazette 123A/ Law 2071/1992 / Article 58), with the two main ones being:
- Emergency Department (E.D.) – treating urgent cases, either brought by the National Emergency Center (EKAB) or arriving on their own
Regular Outpatient Clinics (R.O.C.) – for scheduled examinations requiring an appointment based on the medical specialty needed
Provided Services of Secondary Health Care
Secondary Health Care covers cases requiring hospital admissions, surgical operations, and specialized medical procedures such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy for treating severe or less severe conditions. It also includes high‑precision diagnostic examinations—such as MRI and CT scans—which are not widely available in other healthcare structures like P.H.C. due to the required equipment and specialized expertise.
Hospitals operate on a 24‑hour on‑call shift system, depending on their geographic region and regular operational schedule. On‑call schedules are set based on each hospital’s capabilities and areas of specialization.
