The Ministry of Health’s 25-euro public hospital admission “ticket” has come into effect as of January 1st, with the destitute and the chronically ill being exempt from the fee. This fee will be payable upon the patient’s discharge from the hospital.
The Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, who appeared on Mega Channel this morning, explained that 5 euros are for the admission in the hospitals, while the 20 euros are for medical expenses.
When asked what will happen if a patient cannot pay, the Minister responded “we will not take him to prison, do not worry”, without further elaborating. The president of the Evangelismos hospital employees noted that his hospital does not have the necessary equipment to collect this charge.
Prescription charges to come into effect next week
The Health Minister also revealed that the electronic network system IDIKA for the collection of one euro per prescription from pharmacies is not ready, but is expected to go online by the 10th of January. Again, the chronically ill will be exempt from this fee.
Mr. Georgiadis explained that pharmacists will not taxed for this sum and that the one-euro contribution will be payable by EOPYY insurance policy holders. The details regarding this fee will soon be outlined in a regulation.
