Nikos Androulakis, leader of Greece’s main opposition party, PASOK-Movement for Change, announced on Monday his party's plans to address the sharp increases in health and hospital insurance premiums imposed by insurance companies.
Speaking to the media, Androulakis emphasised that the issue affects hundreds of thousands of policyholders in hospital insurance programs. He expressed concern over the financial strain these hikes place on individuals, many of whom are forced to abandon health insurance they have paid into for decades. “These are programs people relied on to support them in their later, more vulnerable years,” he said.
Androulakis placed the blame squarely on the government, pointing to a 2020 law (Article 268, Law 4738/2020) that he claimed allowed insurance companies to dictate premium increases using a private healthcare index created by the companies themselves.
“This unaccountability began with the government’s legislation,” he stated, accusing it of enabling insurance companies to impose "exorbitant premiums" without proper oversight.
Androulakis pledged that PASOK-Movement for Change would take swift parliamentary action when the legislature reconvenes. “We will immediately introduce a proposal to abolish this unacceptable regime and bring transparency and balance to the sector,” he said.
He framed the initiative as a moral obligation. “We have a duty to correct this injustice against thousands of our fellow citizens,” Androulakis declared, reiterating his party’s commitment to holding the government accountable for its decisions.
This development comes amid growing public discontent over the cost of healthcare in Greece, with many families struggling to afford essential services. PASOK’s move is likely to intensify the political debate on healthcare policy in the country.