Online prescription in Greece: how it works
Medically reviewed by: Dr Nikolas Kousouris, General / Family Physician
If you need medication while you are in Greece and you are not registered with the Greek public health system, an online prescription in Greece is available through a private consultation with a licensed Greek doctor.
What a private prescription is
A private prescription is a normal medical prescription issued outside the public health system. A licensed Greek doctor assesses you, and if medication is appropriate, issues the prescription directly to you. It arrives by email, and you take it to any Greek pharmacy and pay for the medicine yourself.
This is not a workaround or a lesser route. It is the ordinary way that anyone without Greek public cover — tourists, expatriates, people working here temporarily — obtains medication.
The AMKA number, which you may see mentioned, is the Greek social security number. It links a patient to the national electronic prescription system, where prescriptions are recorded digitally and pharmacies retrieve them by number. Without an AMKA you are simply outside that system, so the prescription comes to you directly instead.
What can be prescribed online
A doctor can assess many common problems remotely, because the assessment rests largely on your description of the symptoms and how they have developed. If you want the wider picture first, you can read how telemedicine in Greece works.
Short-term problems while you are here
Respiratory infections, urinary symptoms, skin problems and rashes, mild stomach or bowel upsets, and allergic reactions can usually be assessed over video. The doctor considers each case individually and decides whether medication is appropriate, whether tests are needed, or whether you should be examined in person.
Running out of your usual medication
If you take regular medication and have run out — left at home, lost in transit, or a stay that ran longer than planned — a consultation can address it. Have the medicine names and doses ready, along with anything you can show the doctor: the packaging, a photograph, or your prescription from home. The doctor will review what you are taking and decide whether it can be continued.
What your prescription contains
The prescription arrives by email as a document you can print or show on your phone. It carries your name, the medicine, the strength and the dosage instructions, along with the prescribing doctor's details and registration.
Taking it to a Greek pharmacy
Greek pharmacies are marked with a green cross and are common in towns and on the islands. Bring the prescription — printed or on your phone — and identification.
You pay the full price of the medicine, as public insurance subsidies do not apply to a private prescription. Ask for a receipt: if you have travel or health insurance at home, you may be able to claim the cost back afterwards.
The decision rests with the doctor
The consultation fee covers the medical assessment. Whether a prescription is appropriate is decided by the doctor, based on what emerges during the consultation.
A consultation does not guarantee a prescription. In many cases the right next step is tests, monitoring, or an in-person examination — and the doctor will explain this if it applies to you.
What cannot be prescribed remotely
Some categories of medication are not prescribed in an online consultation:
- Controlled substances and opioid painkillers
- Sleeping tablets and benzodiazepines
- ADHD stimulant medication
- Medicines requiring physical examination, laboratory testing or close monitoring
These require assessment and follow-up that cannot be carried out remotely. If you need medication of this kind, the doctor will direct you to the appropriate care setting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an AMKA number? No. A private prescription is issued directly to you and accepted by Greek pharmacies.
Is a private prescription valid? Yes. It is a normal prescription issued by a licensed Greek doctor.
How much will the medicine cost? You pay the pharmacy's full price, as public subsidies do not apply. Ask for a receipt for any insurance claim at home.
What if the doctor decides I don't need medication? They will explain their assessment and what the appropriate next step is for you.
You have run out of the medication you take regularly, left it at home, or picked up something while you are here — a chest infection, a urinary infection, a rash. These are the situations a video consultation is well suited to. Download the DocNow app, book an appointment and describe what is going on. The doctor will assess you and explain the appropriate next step, at their clinical discretion.
The information above is provided exclusively for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice. Please consult your treating doctor to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your individual needs.
