The process of free movement within the European Union has necessitated changes in regulations concerning the right to healthcare access for individuals traveling from one country to another, aiming to achieve the coordination of national social security rights at a European level.
European Directive 24/2011 and Law 4213/13 oblige the competent National Authorities to ensure adherence to national standards and guidelines for quality and safety, as every citizen has the right to primary healthcare and medical care, while health systems are not allowed to deny healthcare services or discriminate based on nationality.
The Directive mandates that each member state designate one or more national contact points for cross-border healthcare, which communicate with patient organizations, healthcare providers, and healthcare insurance bodies and are responsible for providing patients with information about their rights.
Following the provision of care, the member state of insurance is responsible for reimbursing the insured person for their healthcare expenses, provided that the specific treatment is among those eligible for reimbursement. The reimbursement level is equivalent to the amount that would have been reimbursed by the national social security system if the care had been provided within its territory and does not exceed the actual cost of the provided care.
Thermal tourism, alongside thermal medicine, aims not only at complementary treatment but also at the overall rejuvenation of body, mind, and spirit, prevention, rehabilitation, anti-aging, aesthetic improvement, and cultivating a positive outlook on life. Thermal spas now include new products and services such as aesthetic treatments, slimming programs, fitness, healthy eating, thalassotherapy, physiotherapy, relaxation, meditation, and cater to broader demographic groups (silver and gold tourism), addressing not only patients but also their companions.
Licensing is necessary for medical services within tourism infrastructures, the creation of a digital map of health services and treatments, the establishment of cooperative formations between medical centers and hotels, the initiation of negotiations with foreign insurance funds, and the signing of contracts for providing healthcare to insured tourists. Furthermore, the creation of a strong branding identity, such as “All I Want is Greece”, is imperative to ensure a steady flow of health travelers by leveraging the uniqueness of the country and excluding competition.
It is essential to develop an electronic portal with controlled access for stakeholders from both the private and public sectors in Greece and abroad, such as the Hellenic Tourism Organization, communities, and embassies, to provide immediate electronic updates for all involved parties. This ensures effective coordination of efforts to attract health travelers to Greece. Each stakeholder will share updates on policies, infrastructure, relevant legislation, and information about new treatments.
The portal will also serve as an observatory, recording all complaints and comments submitted through the monitoring system. It will automatically consolidate a comprehensive view of the performance and effectiveness of actions based on real user experiences.
Konstantinos Kouskoukis
Professor of Dermatology – Lawyer
B’ Vice President GDHI
President Hellenic Academy of Thermal Medicine
President World Academy of Chinese & Complimentary Medicine