Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a significant public health concern worldwide, and Greece is no exception. The disease presents a substantial economic burden, necessitating a deeper understanding of both its rising prevalence and the health system’s capacity to manage its wide-ranging consequences. Effective diabetes management requires a holistic approach that addresses the interplay of diabetes and other chronic conditions, emphasising prevention, early intervention, and patient-centred care. This requires a shift from reactive to proactive care models, prioritising patient empowerment and improving the efficiency of care delivery.
While Greece has made strides in diabetes care, including improved access to therapies and innovative treatments for people living with diabetes, critical challenges persist that hinder optimal patient outcomes. A lack of comprehensive data obscures the true prevalence, complications, costs, and overall impact of the disease. Additionally, the absence of a national diabetes plan and inconsistencies in care coordination hinder optimal patient outcomes and the healthcare system’s ability to respond effectively.
This report analyses the impact of DM in Greece and explores opportunities for health system reform to improve diabetes care and management and provides a comprehensive set of actionable policy recommendations. Specifically, the study outlines crucial reform opportunities, including establishing a national diabetes plan, enhancing integrated care, increasing the availability of digital health technologies, investing in health data infrastructure, and strengthening HTA capacity building for medicines while implementing HTA for medical devices and digital health technologies.