Eastern Greek islands have been direct passageways of (mainly Syrian) refugees to the European continent over the past year. However, basic medical care has been insufficient. Despite calls for reform, the Greek healthcare system has for many years been costly and dysfunctional, lacking universal equity of access. Thus, mainly volunteers look after the refugee camps in the Greek islands under adverse conditions. Communicable diseases, trauma related injuries and mental health problems are the most common issues facing the refugees. The rapid changes in the epidemiology of multiple conditions that are seen in countries with high immigration rates, like Greece, demand pragmatic solutions. Best available knowledge should be used in delivering health interventions. So far, Greece is failed by international aid, and cross-border policies have not effectively tackled underlying reasons for ill-health in this context, like poverty, conflict and equity of access. © 2016 The Author(s).

Greece Migrants Refugee Access Inequality Conflict Syria

immigrant refugee health care policy poverty Syrian Arab Republic infectious disease mental health human epidemiology Communicable Diseases Refugees immigration injury statistics and numerical data health service priority journal socioeconomic status Health Services Needs and Demand knowledge mental disease Humans Socioeconomic Factors accessibility socioeconomics Greece Article organization and management health care voluntary approach communicable disease migration health care access health care system Transients and Migrants Delivery of Health Care health care disparity Health Services Accessibility social conflict health care delivery