Greek island dialysis: EHIC/GHIC, booking ahead and island hopping

Greece is a popular dialysis holiday, and several islands have units that take visiting patients every summer. The catch is capacity: island units are small, and July and August fill up months in advance.

Where you can dialyse

• Athens has the most choice, with hospital units and private centres
• Crete (Chania and Heraklion), Rhodes and Corfu have units that regularly take holiday patients
• Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos and Zakynthos each have a unit on the island
• Inland sights like Meteora and Delphi have no unit of their own, so you dialyse in a nearby town

For addresses and phone numbers of every unit, island by island, see holiday dialysis in Greece.

Do EHIC and GHIC cover dialysis in Greece?

Yes, for state-provided treatment. A valid EHIC (for EU/EEA and Swiss residents) or UK GHIC covers dialysis at public hospital units, and at private units contracted to the Greek national health system, on the same terms as local patients. You have to arrange the sessions with the unit before you travel; you can't just turn up.

Many private island units accept EHIC and GHIC, but not all, and some charge extra on top. Ask the unit to confirm in writing before you book. If you're not covered, expect to pay per session and claim back through your travel insurance where your policy allows. See how much holiday dialysis costs.

When to book

For July and August, start three to four months ahead. Island units have only a handful of chairs, and holiday slots go to the earliest complete applications. In May, June, September and October there's usually more room, the weather is cooler, and fluid limits are easier to manage.

Island hopping

If you're visiting more than one island, book a unit on each island where you'll have a treatment day. Check ferry times against your session times: ferries are often delayed in the summer winds, so don't plan a crossing for the morning of a session.

Heat and fluid

Greek summers are hot. Sweating can make it tempting to drink more than your limit, and some medicines affect how you cope with heat. Ask your renal team for advice before you go, plan shade and rest around treatment days, and weigh yourself at the same time each day.

Planning a Greek holiday? Request a booking and we'll check availability on the islands you're visiting.