Peer Review: Improving coverage of long-term care in Greece: addressing regional disparities and expanding care services

On 27-28 January 2026, a Social Protection Committee Peer Review on Improving coverage of long-term care in Greece: addressing regional disparities and expanding care services took place in Athens.

The peer review was hosted by the Greek Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs and brought together peer country representatives, alongside the European Commission and thematic experts, from:

• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Hungary
• Italy

The peer review was organised over two days and structured around three interrelated thematic strands:

• coverage
• adequacy
• long-term care workforce and informal caregivers

The first day focused on coverage of long-term care services. Discussions examined the extent of territorial disparities in access to long-term care within and across Member States and explored their underlying causes, including funding models, workforce availability, infrastructure, governance and quality of services. Participants assessed gaps in service provision across home care, community-based care and residential care, with particular attention to underserved areas. The exchanges also highlighted measures implemented to reduce regional inequalities, effective community-based care models, the use of ICT solutions to improve access, and monitoring systems and indicators used to assess coverage and identify territorial gaps.

The second day addressed adequacy of long-term care as well as workforce and informal caregiver issues. Discussions on adequacy focused on the timeliness of needs assessment and service delivery, including waiting times, resource allocation and monitoring mechanisms. Participants also explored approaches to improving coordination and integration between health and social care services, examined funding models that have contributed to better adequacy outcomes, and reviewed indicators used to monitor affordability, comprehensiveness and quality of care.

The final thematic strand concentrated on long-term care workers and informal caregivers. Exchanges covered key challenges in recruiting and retaining the long-term care workforce, good practice examples, and initiatives to improve training, professional standards and career pathways. Particular attention was paid to mechanisms to identify and support informal caregivers, as well as to the potential role, benefits and requirements of national registries for formal carers in strengthening recognition, training and workforce retention.

The peer review concluded with a feedback session and a summary of key learning messages, highlighting common challenges, transferable practices and opportunities for follow-up and mutual learning among participating countries.

All relevant documents will be uploaded shortly.

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