The National Health System is entering a new digital era, aiming to simplify procedures and provide citizens with faster access to medical care.

From October 1, the new appointment booking system for hospitals and NHS facilities will begin operating. It is more user-friendly and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Up until now, anyone who wanted to book an appointment with a hospital doctor had to call the hospital directly or dial 1535. These methods will be discontinued to ensure unified records, transparency, and better control.

From October 1, citizens will be able to book appointments free of charge through:

• The national phone line 1566
• The MyHealth App
• The website finddoctors.gov.gr

Citizens will still have the option to schedule appointments by phone directly with the facility or in person.

At the same time, from October 1, all appointments for Regular Outpatient Clinics must be exclusively posted on the IDIKA (e-prescription and health IT platform) system.

“A digital era for the NHS means faster and simpler access for patients,” said Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (APE–MPE).

He explained how appointments will be booked and outlined the multiple benefits for citizens:

“Currently, more than 500,000 citizens are examined monthly through the NHS. With the changes we are introducing and the service upgrades in hospitals, this number will exceed 830,000 patients per month, ensuring faster access and more immediate care for citizens.”

Mr. Themistokleous further explained that with the new system, all appointments will now be recorded on a single digital platform.

“This ensures that no appointments are lost, there are no double bookings, and citizens know transparently when and where they will be served — without losing their place in line, without waiting, with the NHS waiting for them instead.”

According to Mr. Themistokleous, these changes demonstrate three things:

1. The NHS is expanding – serving more people, more quickly.
2. The NHS is modernizing – simplifying procedures and making access easier for everyone.
3. The NHS is patient-centered – giving patients the exact time and date they will receive care.

“This is the NHS of a new era. It reflects the vision of a State that stands promptly and caringly by its citizens when needed. And it’s time for this vision to become reality in Greece,” he emphasized.

Hospital appointments will begin being gradually added to the new system from October 1, and by the end of the year, all appointments will be fully integrated.

Access to the MyHealth App is done using Taxisnet personal credentials.

Citizens can also book appointments on finddoctors.gov.gr using either their Taxisnet credentials or their AΗΦΥ (Personal Electronic Health Record) codes, which they receive from their personal doctor.

The 1566 line, active since July, centralizes all health-related information in a single number. Through 1566, citizens can:

• Book hospital or doctor appointments
• Arrange e-prescriptions
• Book appointments with personal doctors
• Schedule diagnostic tests
• Find which nearby pharmacy has the medicine they need
• Arrange home delivery of High-Cost Medicines
• Enroll in public health prevention and vaccination programs
• Access any other health service

Additionally, 1566 informs citizens about services they are entitled to (e.g., afternoon surgeries, preventive examinations). By June 2026, it will cover all health services.