Greece's National Health System shifts spending from supplies to services

Data from the Ministry of Health’s BI-health system reveals a significant shift in spending patterns within Greece’s National Health System (ESY) between 2024 and 2025. Public hospitals significantly reduced expenditures on medicines, first-aid supplies, orthopedic materials, and reagents. Total spending for these essential items across all seven health regions fell to approximately €625 million in 2025, compared to over €1 billion in 2024.

In contrast, spending on services saw a dramatic increase. Total service costs, which include salaries, utility bills, cleaning, and catering, rose to over €821 million in 2025, up from approximately €184 million in 2024. This surge is attributed to the reinforcement of hospitals with additional support staff, leading to higher payroll expenses.

Within the 1st Health Region (Attica), the Sotiria Hospital in Athens recorded the highest spending on pharmaceuticals. In the same region, spending on first-aid supplies exceeded €249 million, while service costs reached more than €225 million.