The legislative regulation announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the automatic recognition of specialization acquired by Greek doctors trained in the United States will be submitted to Parliament on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The new measure would allow eligible doctors to apply directly to the Panhellenic Medical Association (PIS) to have their US-acquired medical specialization recognized without further review.
The regulation was announced by PM Mitsotakis on Thursday during a speech he delivered at the “Prix Galien Greece 2025” for the pharma industry. The initiative that aims to facilitate the repatriation of Greek doctors from the US to support the Greek National Health System.
“We will bring an important initiative for a vote next week in Parliament. This is none other than the automatic recognition of specialty and consequently of specialization to doctors who have acquired it in the United States, provided, of course, that it is in force, corresponding to positions that exist in Greece,” Mitsotakis said.
🇬🇷 Greece Unlocks Brain Gain in Healthcare 🧠🩺
Today, @PrimeministerGR @kmitsotakis announced the implementation of a major policy reform based on Deon’s proposal: automatic recognition of U.S. medical specialty certifications for Greek doctors trained in the United States. pic.twitter.com/jAvE6duI6w
— Deon Policy Institute (@deonpolicy) April 25, 2025
The initiative is part of broader efforts to address a shortage of medical professionals in Greece and to reverse the brain drain that intensified during the country’s financial crisis.
It was only last month when daily kathimerini revealed that health professionals who returned to Greece after prestigious medical careers in the US under the “BrainReGain” program were stuck in endless red tape and said that they regreted their decision. Despite meeting all legal and professional requirements, the Greek Health Ministry had not recognized their specializations, leaving them in bureaucratic limbo.
Thrilled by the Premier’s initiative, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis stated that “in summer, when they come on vacation, if they want to offer their services for two weeks, for a month, or for two months. Why can’t they do it?,” state news agency amna.gr reported.
PS I have no objection for doctors in bermuda shorts and flip flops provided that I can reach them and hold them accountable if something has gone wrong. And phone calls to USA are extremely expensive.
