The Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadisthe Deputy Minister of Health Irini Agapidakis and the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Athanasios Petraliassigned a Joint Ministerial Decision giving for the first time a one-off financial incentive of 40,000 euros to young doctors who will choose to train in the specialties of General/Family Medicine and Internal Pathology, two areas where our country shows serious deficiencies in relation to the European average.

In particular, every new doctor who chooses in the year 2025 to train in the specialties of either General/Family Medicine or Internal Pathology in hospitals with vacant positions and without a waiting list, will receive the amount of 40,000 euros. This amount will be paid in two phases: â…” at the start of the training and â…“ at the completion of the specialization. The strengthening of these specialties will contribute to the immediate filling of vacancies in our country’s hospitals, leading to a substantial upgrade of the quality of health services provided throughout the territory. Through this specific reform, the Ministry of Health attracts young doctors in areas that are critical to the National Health System.

In addition, all general/family medicine specialists will obligatorily provide, during the fifth year of their specialization, personal physician services in Health Centers. In this way all medical specialists will receive valuable practical experience, enhancing their clinical knowledge and skills at the frontline of healthcare.

The Ministry of Health strengthens Primary Health Care, promotes equal access to health services for all citizens and contributes to the sustainability of the National Health System, providing young doctors with the tools and opportunities to respond to modern needs of the health sector.

The Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadisstated: “The shortage of medical personnel, especially pathologists, is today the biggest problem in public systems, not only in Greece but also in the entire European Union. A series of successive decisions we have taken recently have helped a lot to mitigate the phenomenon and many doctors who had left the NHS in previous years are now coming back. In continuation of the measures we have taken so far, we are signing a new Ministerial Decision by which we establish a financial incentive of 40,000 euros to every new doctor who chooses the specialty of Pathology. In this way, we strengthen Primary Health Care, in all regions of Greece, especially in the Regional Health Structures of the National Health Service. So we respond with actions and not words to the existing problem of lack of human resources. As much as some want to discredit the NHS, the NHS is changing, getting better and will continue to provide the Health services our fellow citizens deserve.”

The Deputy Minister of Health Irini Agapidakisstated:

“For the first time, the Ministry of Health is establishing a one-time financial incentive of 40,000 euros, proving in practice our commitment to supporting young doctors, so that they can stay and pursue a career in our country. With this initiative, we strengthen the NHS by immediately filling the gaps. At the same time, we seek to increase the number of Pathologists and General Practitioners that are missing from our country in order to build a sustainable, strong National Health System that meets the needs of all citizens”.

You can see the relevant gazette here.