For many UK nationals, moving to a warmer climate is a dream. Each year, thousands leave the UK in search of the perfect life and whilst the majority head for Spain or France, an increasing number settles in Crete.

Crete has a lot to offer, not least of all a warm climate and a friendly population. But visiting a country is a very different experience to settling in; it is only once you have moved over that you really can appreciate the difference in culture and public services.

The health service in Crete is very different to the UK. Whilst the public hospital system is very acceptable, there is no GP system, as we know it. 
When you first arrive, the S1 form will cover you for up to 2 years if you are below retirement age. If you are of pensionable age or work in Crete, you may be eligible for IKA health cover. IKA provides the equivalent to the National Health Service in Greece. 

When you reach state retirement age, you can get form S1 from the Department of Work and Pensions in the UK and take it to IKA.  You will be issued with a health booklet that entitles you to treatment with all IKA doctors.  You also get medicines on prescription at 25 % of their full cost.  If only one of you reaches retirement age, the other marriage partner can also get an IKA booklet as a dependent. 

As there is no GP system as such, you will either have to pay for a specialist yourself, or subscribe to a private medical insurance scheme, but these can be expensive and don’t provide a GP service. 

For Kathy, this was the only disadvantage of living in Crete.

'In Crete,’ she says, ‘language and culture are not a problem, the doctors are highly trained and most speak English but there are no GPs as we know them. You can receive free treatment if you are registered with IKA and either work or receive a pension in Crete. If you are just travelling there, you can use your EHIC card but when you become a resident, the only other alternative is to have private medical insurance.’

‘My village has an allocated doctor who visits twice a week but can only write repeat prescriptions. Some medications, such as codeine or Tramadol, can only be prescribed by senior hospital doctors. This means having to go to a hospital for any new prescription.’

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