Covering medical expenses

Students are provided with free medical care, according to the provisions of this Article. Second class hospitalization of students is provided, which is calculated based on the cost which applies for civil servants. The cost of health care is covered by the university budget or the budget of the Students’ Union. Health insurance includes:

Check-ups and other medical examinations.
Hospital tests.
Medication.
Clinical tests.
Examination at home.
Childbirth.
Physiotherapy.
Dental care.
Orthopaedic aids.

The following expenses are not included:

Hearing-aids.
Basic medication.
Medical equipment and instruments.
Corrective lenses exceeding the amount of 3 euros and contact lenses exceeding the amount of 15 euros.
Spectacle frames exceeding the amount of 6 euros.
Cosmetics.
Spa-therapy.
Payment for a visiting nurse.
Plastic surgery.

Student Health Booklet

The Student Health Booklet is given to students upon registration at A.U.Th., following an application form they submit at the School Secretariat and provided they have not chosen another insurance. The booklet includes the student’s full name, a photograph, the student’s registration number and identity card number, hospital details (1st, 2nd class, etc.), and all the regulations concerning the student’s hospitalization. In case of loss, it can be replaced after a period of 2 months.

The Student Health Booklet is renewed by the School Secretariat each year.

Where medical care is provided

Students who require medical care may go (on weekdays at the appointed working hours) to either the Health Centre in the Halls of Residence (corner of Nea Egnatia and September 3rd streets), to the doctor in the State Health Service of A.U.Th., or to the private doctor who cooperates with them. Students should produce the Student Health Booklet (S.H.B).

Medical care is provided within the Greek State and, more specifically, to:

Students within the faculties or schools of Institutions of Higher Education.
Students who participate in university excursions or who are doing practice or who are conducting a thesis outside the University.
Students who are in need of special treatment which is not available in the city where the Institution of Higher Education is located, or in the place where the student might be, as mentioned above (see ii). In this case the opinion of the doctor from the Students’ Union of that Institution is required or that of a doctor from the Health Service of the Institution, or that of the doctor who cooperates with the Institutions as well as the approval of the respective Executive Committee of the School.
Students who are outside the University, provided the student’s condition is serious. In this case the student should inform the Health Service of the Students’ Union or the Executive Committee of his School of his condition within two working days.

For the approval of expenses, along with the other necessary documentation, a certificate from a doctor from a public Health Institution (hospital, rural clinic, etc.) as well as approval from the Executive Committee of the Students’ Union or that of the School concerned are also required.

Choice of Insurance

In case the student is directly or indirectly entitled to health insurance from another organization, s/he can choose his/her health insurance organization by submitting a form to the university.
Then, expenses are covered by the health insurance of his/her choice. In case the health insurance covers only hospitalization and medical treatment, or part of hospital expenses, then the university or the Students’ Union cover the remaining expenses.

Hospital Care

Hospital treatment is provided in public hospitals or preferably in the University Clinics. Such treatment can also be provided in private clinics but only in the event that public hospitals cannot cater for a particular case or when there are no beds available in an emergency. In such a case only the cost of second class hospital accommodation is covered. Admission to the above institutions requires a special ticket, which is provided at the Health Service Office in the Students’ Union or in A.U.Th.

The above procedure can only be avoided in the following cases:

When the Health Service Office is closed.
When there is an emergency.

In these cases, the Office of the Health Service should be notified by either the patient himself, one of his relatives or the clinic where the student is hospitalized within no more than two working days following admission to the clinic, so that the doctor from A.U.Th. can decide whether the incident was urgent or not.
In case that there is no notification or if a certificate is not provided by the doctor from the Students’ Union or the University, then the cost will be incurred by the student himself.
The results of a student’s medical examinations or tests are announced only after the student’s agreement.

Dental Treatment

Dental treatment is provided at the laboratories in the School of Dentistry of the University of Thessaloniki, and in state Hospitals with a Dental Department.
This treatment includes curative work and corresponds to the treatment civil servants are entitled to.
The laboratories of the School of Dentistry may refer their students to a private dentist for a tooth extraction or for treatment of infectious mouth diseases, but not for additive dental work.

Medication

Prescriptions, which are written on the S.H.B, can be given by:

Doctors from the Students’ Union.
Hospital doctors.
Private doctors.

In the last two cases, the prescriptions given have to be counter-signed by either the inspecting doctor from the Students’ Union or from A.U.Th. within two working days from the date the prescription was issued. Otherwise, the prescription is invalid. The student’s full name, the School, the registration number, the doctor’s opinion, the date, the signature and the doctor’s stamp should be clearly shown on the prescription.
Prescriptions are carried out at certain pharmacies which co-operate with A.U.Th. The prescription is signed by the student when the medicine is collected.

Health Tests

These tests are conducted in university laboratories, where available, or at the laboratories in the Students’ Union, where available, or at the laboratories of private Health Institutions if the student is referred there by the Health Service of the Institution of Higher Education.
In the event that the means are not available, if there is too much work or if there is an electrical or technical failure, then these tests may be carried out in private clinics or laboratories on the recommendation of the Health Service of the Institution of Higher Education.

Medical Examination at Home

When the patient’s condition makes it impossible for him/her to go to a doctor’s surgery, then s/he can call a doctor from the Students’ Union to visit his/her house during working days and between working hours. The doctor is obliged to visit the patient on the same day. In an emergency or when the patient’s condition is particularly serious, the doctor will visit him/her immediately. If the doctor is unable to visit the patient or if the Health Service is closed, provided the patient’s condition is particularly serious, then the patient can be admitted to the hospital on duty or to a private clinic. In this case, the Health Service of the Students’ Union has to be informed in a period of two week days.

Childbirth

In the event of natural childbirth or a Caesarean birth, in addition to covering the expenses as outlined in Article 2 of this decree, a childbirth benefit is provided to female students. This benefit amounts to that provided to civil servants as long as the student herself or her husband do not receive an allowance from any other source.
In the event of a Caesarean birth, the procedure covering hospital care is followed.

Physiotherapy

Students who are in need of physiotherapy treatment following an accident or other condition should submit an application along with the attendant doctor’s opinion to the Students’ Union Health Service.
Such applications are examined by the Health Service, which will then make the final decision. Physiotherapy treatment is carried out in suitable departments of public Health Institutions or in private Health Institutions, after the patient has been referred there by the Students’ Union Health Service. If the above institutions cannot provide for the patient’s needs, then physiotherapy treatment can be carried out in private clinics or special physiotherapy clinics. In this case, the reason for the referral should be clearly stated on the student’s health form.

Orthopaedic Equipment

The cost of orthopaedic equipment is only covered in the event that the need has arisen due to an accident or a disease, in accordance with the terms which apply to civil servants.
The student should submit an application with an orthopaedic doctor’s opinion, which will then be examined by the Health Service before a final decision is made.

Treatment Abroad

Treatment abroad is justified in exceptional cases, such as students who suffer from very serious illnesses which cannot be diagnosed and cured in Greece. The final decision is taken by the competent committee of the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, following the approval of a Professor or the Head of a public University Health Clinic or the Head of a Health Institution of Private Law and after the recommendation of the Health Service and the agreement of the Executive Committee of the relevant School.
The cost of hospitalization, the transfer of the patient and their escort, etc. will be covered by the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity.

European Health Insurance Card

When students who have a Student Health Booklet visit an EU member state they can get a European Health Insurance Card, which will simplify the procedure when receiving medical assistance during their stay in a member state.
For more information, contact the health service of the Student Club or School secretariats. Students who have chosen another insurance body can get this card from their insurance organization. This card is not valid for medical trips.