Athens Medical Association warns of private healthcare monopoly risks

The Athens Medical Association (ISA) has sent a letter to Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis expressing serious concerns regarding the potential establishment of monopolies and functional interconnections within the private healthcare sector.

The association's intervention follows public debate and reports concerning a possible change in ownership of a major private healthcare group. These reports suggest potential involvement from business entities linked to credit institutions and insurance companies. While the ISA noted these reports are unconfirmed, it warned that if such a concentration of private healthcare services, insurance coverage, and financing occurs, it requires rigorous institutional scrutiny.

The ISA highlighted two primary risks: for physicians, the increased bargaining power of a single entity could lead to compressed fees and unilateral terms that undermine professional independence; for patients, it could restrict the freedom to choose doctors and hospitals through closed networks, potentially weakening equitable access to healthcare services.