A study by the Greek Medical Association’s Institute of Scientific Studies has revealed that nearly 40% of antibiotic packages dispensed monthly in Greece went unrecorded before mandatory electronic prescriptions began in September 2020, using data from the national health data organization IDIKA covering 2018-2024.
The share of the population receiving at least one antibiotic package annually rose from 26.8% in 2018 to 45.1% in 2024, the research found. Greece falls 20-25% short of the EU’s 2030 target for first- and second-generation antibiotics, which lower resistance risk.
Only 9% of prescriptions follow treatment protocols, researchers said, partly because doctors often prefer different drugs than those specified.
Antibiotic use is highest in island and tourist regions, with prescriptions in some areas reaching 170 boxes per 1,000 residents monthly, compared to about 70-75 in Evrytania and Fokida. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis attended the presentation.
