Greek Health Deputy Minister Mario Themistokleous announced that a new recruitment process for doctors will open within the next 20 days to strengthen the National Healthcare System (ESY). According to him, the timeline from announcement to placement is expected to be three to four months — a significant acceleration compared to previous years, when hiring could take up to two and a half to three years.
A Targeted Plan for Healthcare Staffing
Speaking to REAL FM 97.8, Themistokleous outlined the Ministry of Health’s broader strategy to reinforce Greece’s public health infrastructure. Key elements include new medical recruitments, the establishment of a unified nursing sector, financial incentives for doctors accepting positions on islands and remote areas, and streamlined staffing procedures.
Unlike other public sector roles, doctors in Greece are not hired through the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP). Instead, they are appointed via specialized evaluation committees — a process that has recently been reformed to speed up placements.
2026 Recruitment Targets
The ministry’s 2026 staffing plan includes:
- 5,000 permanent positions
- 3,000 auxiliary positions
Meanwhile, ASEP’s ongoing recruitment notice 2K/2026 — covering 1,696 positions across hospitals, health organizations, and agencies under the Ministry of Health — remains open until 18 March.
Unified Nursing Sector Bill Imminent
Themistokleous confirmed that a bill to create a single, unified nursing sector will be submitted to the Hellenic Parliament this month. Described as fulfilling a longstanding demand of nurses, the reform aims to enable more precise allocation of nursing staff and faster coverage of vacancies where shortages exist.
Incentives for Island Assignments
To address chronic staffing gaps in island and remote regions — where around 300 posts traditionally remained unfilled — the government has introduced financial incentives. These include a monthly mobility allowance of €2,000 for doctors relocating from mainland Greece to islands. Additionally, the Stelios Haji-Ioannou Foundation contributes an extra €1,500 per month, tax-free and on top of base salary.
Thanks to these measures, approximately two-thirds of previously vacant island-based positions have already been filled.