RESEARCH REPORT | open access

Healthcare challenges and risks in remote Greek islands: perceptions of the local population of Folegandros

Vasiliki Gkanti*

Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece (VG)
*corresponding author (gkantivaso@gmail.com)

Received: 13 May 2025; Revised: 28 June 2025; Accepted: 29 June 2025; Published: 17 July 2025

Abstract: Background: In many remote and hard-to-reach islands – commonly referred to as “geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas” (GIDAs) – hospitals and healthcare clinics face significant constraints in delivering quality services due to inadequate infrastructure, limited investment, insufficient supplies, and shortages in personnel. Greece, a country comprising a vast number of islands that collectively represent approximately 20% of its territory, frequently encounters this phenomenon. Aim: This study sought to map the perceptions and attitudes of the local community on the island of Folegandros regarding healthcare service provision. Methodology: The study has employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative data were obtained via a structured electronic questionnaire, randomly distributed to 150 of the island’s 600 permanent residents. Qualitative data were collected from the local medical unit and the municipal administration. Results: Only 25.4% of the respondents considered the public healthcare services available on Folegandros to be adequate. Confidence in the quality of the medical procedures was assessed as moderate. While 73.8% of the study’s participants expressed satisfaction with the competence of the medical personnel, 75.4% reported dissatisfaction with the quality of the available medical equipment. Key issues identified through the survey include deficient infrastructure, a shortage of general practitioners and specialists, limited local laboratory capabilities, the absence of telemedicine services, and significant challenges in patient transport. Conclusion: The effective functioning of healthcare services on Folegandros requires a comprehensive revision of the current provision structure. Recommended improvements include the optimal use of existing infrastructure, the reinforcement of ongoing incentive policies for healthcare professionals, and the modernization of the available patient transport systems. These measures are essential for the enhancement of accessibility and, consequently, for the bolstering of public trust in the quality of healthcare services in Greek GIDAs such as the island of Folegandros.

Keywords: challenges; Greece; healthcare; infrastructure; islands

Gkanti V.: Healthcare challenges and risks in remote Greek islands: perceptions of the local population of Folegandros. Acta Stud. Med. Biomed. 1(2): 35–42 (2025).
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16019068

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