Greece Expands Automatic Recognition of Medical Specialties to Attract Diaspora Doctors

By Greek City Times Staff
December 16, 2025

Athens — Greece has taken a significant step to reverse medical brain drain with the passage of Law 5243/2025 (published in Government Gazette A' 187 on October 31, 2025), expanding automatic recognition of medical specialties acquired in several high-level international health systems.

The new legislation adds Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand to the list of countries whose medical specialization titles are now automatically recognized as equivalent to those in Greece.

This reform simplifies bureaucratic procedures, eliminating unnecessary requirements and enabling hundreds of Greek doctors trained abroad to more easily reintegrate into the National Health System (ESY).

The change builds on earlier recognition for U.S.-trained specialists and implements recommendations from the July 2025 policy study "Unlocking Brain Gain in Medicine," co-authored by Eugenia Gourgari (Georgetown University), Afroditi Xydi, and Georgios Laskaris.

Key Details of the New Law

• The legislative provision amends Article 21(5) of Greek Law 3580/2007.
• Initially focused on U.S. qualifications, the law was expanded on October 31, 2025, to include automatic recognition of qualifications from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
• The new framework allows Greek and EU doctors who have completed their specialisation in these countries to submit documentation through the Hellenic Medical Association's digital platform for recognition and a licence to practise in Greece without additional requirements.
• The reform aims to attract highly trained Greek doctors back to Greece, support the Greek National Health System, and strengthen medical ties with these countries. 

Afroditi Xydi, executive director of an independent policy institute that championed the proposal, welcomed the development: "It is particularly encouraging to see the State consistently advancing our vision. We hope this initiative will soon extend to the dental sector to facilitate the return of dentists trained in similar high-level systems abroad."

Greek doctors who completed their specialization in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, or New Zealand can now apply for recognition electronically via the Panhellenic Medical Association platform at myrequests.pis.gr.

The reform is seen as a key measure to leverage the expertise of the Greek medical diaspora and address staffing shortages in the national healthcare system.

Greece medical specialties recognition, Law 5243/2025 doctor brain gain, Greek doctors return abroad trained, automatic specialty equivalence Canada UK Australia, National Health System ESY reform

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