An Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system must encompass a spectrum of care,\nwith dedicated pre-hospital and in-hospital medical facilities. It has to be organised in such a way as\nto include all necessary servicesââ?¬â?such as triage accurate initial assessment, prompt resuscitation,\nefficient management of emergency cases, and transport to definitive care. The global economic\ndownturn has had a direct effect on the health sector and poses additional threats to the healthcare\nsystem. Greece is one of the hardest-hit countries. This manuscript aims to present the structure of the\nGreek EMS system and the impact of the current economic recession on it. Nowadays, primary care\nsuffers major shortages in crucial equipment, unmet health needs, and ineffective central coordination.\nPatients are also facing economic limitations that lead to difficulties in using healthcare services.\nThe multi-factorial problem of in-hospital EMS overcrowding is also evident and has been linked\nwith potentially poorer clinical outcomes. Furthermore, the ongoing refugee crisis challenges the\nnational EMS. Adoption of a triage scale, expansion of the primary care network, and an effective\nprimaryââ?¬â??hospital continuum of care are urgently needed in Greece to provide comprehensive,\nculturally competent, and high-quality health care.
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