OBJECTIVES: This was an exploratory study, which aimed to investigate healthcare utilisation and perceived health needs of MS patients in the Greek healthcare setting.

METHODS: 17 semi-structured interviews were performed with a convenience sample of MS patients, living in Attica and Thessaly regions in Greece. Participants were recruited through Associations for MS patients. All interviews were recorded following participants’ consent, transcribed and analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.

RESULTS: Patients’ mean age was 39.6 years (range 29-68). The mean number of years living with MS was 12.6 (range 6-23). Participants reported having Relapsing – Remitting and Secondary Progressive MS. During the course of the disease, patients reported experiencing relapses of variable severity, which usually lead to a change in their pharmacological regimen. The majority of participants viewed pharmacotherapy along with their psychological and physical condition of great importance for managing their disease. Apart from neurologists, patients reported also visiting other healthcare professionals and undergoing routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other tests. Participants considered that insurance coverage for psychological services and physiotherapy as inadequate. Some participants reported having joined self-help and physical activity groups offered by MS patient Associations. Various out-of-pocket payments (OOPs) such as co-payments for medicines (other than those for MS) and MRIs, direct payments for physician visits, professional psychological support and physiotherapy were common for participants, constituting a barrier to care and causing financial hardship to some patients and their families. Participants strongly emphasized that those experiencing relapse(s), face significant OOPs for MRI tests due to co-payments.

CONCLUSIONS: The study provides an overview of health services utilisation among patients with MS in Greece and brings forward barriers in access to care and gaps in healthcare provision. Further quantitative research would complement these findings in order to inform policy-making.