Ophthalmology in Greece affected by strict austerity measures

As Greece is entering the seventh year of an unprecedented economic crisis, there are hardly any aspects of social life that remain unaffected by the strict austerity measures and their consequences. Health professionals and patients have experienced the results of drastic cuts in public spending and the slow rate of implementation of healthcare reforms. Younger physicians, as expected, often see their career plans overturned and realise the need to adjust their ambitions according to the current status of medicine in Greece. Greek ophthalmologists at present need to overcome numerous hurdles to maintain their professional standards at pre-crisis levels. Recession and soaring unemployment have led to a dramatic increase in the number of patients that choose to be treated in public hospitals for their ocular conditions. Taking into account that hospitals are often understaffed and insufficiently funded, it is reasonable that ophthalmologists working in the Greek National Health System struggle to rise to the demands. On the contrary, private practices and hospitals are becoming less and less affordable and, therefore, adjust to the current status quo by reducing prices and cutting down on staff.Resident ophthalmologists and young specialists have to face even more challenges, as their training is often conducted under difficult conditions, and the social circumstances render their initial professional steps very uncertain. As both the public and private sectors are shrinking, a significant number of young ophthalmologists choose to leave Greece to work and complete their postgraduate training abroad. With European countries such as the UK and Germany being the most common destinations, Greek ophthalmologists become valuable parts of the local healthcare systems, rising usually up to their high standards. Although pessimism tends to be a dominant feeling in Greece nowadays, a closer look may reveal signs of hope and recovery. Greek ophthalmologists manage to maintain a high quality of services, implementing all new advancements in their day-to-day practice. Greek hospitals, in the vast majority of cases, offer sufficient services to all inhabitants of Greece and remain a trustworthy and easily accessible choice. Simultaneously, a number of research groups in institutes and universities produce impressive results, thus contributing to the global effort for further improvement in ophthalmic health. Young Greek ophthalmologists tend to demonstrate decisiveness and achieve international distinction, as well as excellent results in examinations such as the European Board of Ophthalmology Diploma. At the same time, Greek physicians who continue their professional life abroad not only achieve very good levels of performance under very demanding conditions, but also acquire significant skills and knowledge, from which Greece has to benefit upon their return. Although a quick recovery for the Greek economy and, subsequently, for Greek society does not appear to be very likely, the ophthalmology community is doing its best to support everyone in need of high quality care, however large the hurdles that need to be overcome. There are many signs that justify an optimistic approach, with the quality and achievements of young doctors clearly among them.   Lampros Lamprogiannis MD, MSc, FEBO was the winner of the John Henahan writing competition for young ophthalmologists in 2014