AN EMERGING NATIONAL DYNAMIC
Interview with the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis
Interview by Lillian Psylla
Medical tourism is evolving into one of the most substantial pillars of Greece’s contemporary tourism product. At a time when travellers are increasingly seeking safety, quality, and integrated care experiences, Greece is dynamically repositioning itself on the international map of health and wellbeing.
The Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, speaks to the Co-Publisher of GRtraveller, Lillian Psylla, about the current momentum of medical tourism in Greece, the country’s comparative advantages, the institutional initiatives currently underway, and the message Greece is addressing to the international market.
How do you assess the current momentum of medical tourism in Greece, and what are the country’s key comparative advantages in this field?
Medical tourism in Greece has begun to perform well, demonstrating steady progress over the past few years, while still presenting significant potential for further development. There are substantial opportunities to strengthen Greece’s international presence through improved organisation, strategic promotion, and targeted partnerships with key foreign markets.
We are performing exceptionally well in the field of assisted reproduction; Greece ranks among the world’s leading countries, with high success rates, highly specialised medical personnel, and modern infrastructure that meets international standards. At the same time, we are seeing strong upward momentum in plastic surgery, attracting an increasing number of patients who combine medical procedures with stays in an appealing tourist destination.
However, we have not yet reached the level we aspire to, and targeted initiatives are required in order to fully unlock this potential.
“Medical tourism in Greece has begun to perform well, showing steady progress in recent years,
yet it still has enormous room for growth ahead.”
In what ways has Greece’s tourism product been strengthened in recent years through the integration of health, rehabilitation, and hospitality?
Greece’s tourism product has been significantly upgraded in recent years in relation to medical tourism, as the country has made substantial investments both in infrastructure and human capital.
Particularly in assisted reproduction, as well as in rehabilitation and recovery services, Greece now hosts outstanding, state-of-the-art facilities that are on par with—and in some cases more competitive than—corresponding centres in Northern Europe and North America. These units are staffed by specialised scientific personnel, equipped with advanced medical technology, and offer integrated care programmes addressing both the medical and psychological dimensions of treatment.
At the same time, the ability to combine high-quality medical services with Greece’s mild climate, natural surroundings, and renowned hospitality further strengthens the country’s competitiveness on the global medical tourism landscape.
“The ability to combine high-level medical services with the country’s mild climate,
natural environment, and hospitality further enhances Greece’s competitiveness on the international medical tourism map.”
Which institutional or investment initiatives do you consider decisive for the further development of medical tourism in the near future?
The Ministries of Health and Tourism are working closely together, in a systematic and organised manner, to develop a comprehensive and internationally recognised certification framework for medical tourism.
Our objective is to establish very strict and transparent criteria addressing the quality of medical services, infrastructure, safety, incident management, and overall patient experience. Through this process, we aim to ensure that every potential patient and traveller choosing Greece feels confidence and security, knowing that the healthcare services provided meet high international standards.
At the same time, this certification will function as a powerful promotional tool abroad, strengthening Greece’s reputation as a reliable and high-quality medical tourism destination.
“Our goal is to establish very strict and transparent criteria covering the quality of medical services,
infrastructure, safety, incident management, and patient experience.”
What message would you like to address to the international market and to institutional stakeholders monitoring Greece as an emerging medical tourism destination?
Greece is an emerging and highly promising medical tourism destination and can develop into a large and dynamically growing market for these types of treatments in the near future.
It combines high-level medical services, modern private healthcare facilities, and competitive costs with a strong tourism brand that is already internationally recognised. With proper strategic planning, targeted investments, and focused promotion, Greece has the potential to attract a significant number of patients from Europe, the Middle East, and other international markets.
“Greece is an emerging and highly promising medical tourism destination and can become, in the near future,
a large and dynamically growing market.”
