OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the operation of the Afternoon Outpatients Clinics (AOC) at the University General Hospital of Larissa. The operation of AOC is a relatively new institution in the country, introduced in 2001 by the 2889 NHS reform law.  METHODS: Descriptive and comparative analysis of data from 2002 of the AOC introduction up to 2006 is done. Data emanate from the 5th Region Health Authority. Clinical and economic indicators have been used for the evaluation based on medical specialties, diagnostic and professional categories, operational activities and financial inputs and outputs. RESULTS: A progressive increase in AOC visits has been estimated, reaching 82% of total hospital outpatient visits with surgery accepting the bigger volume of visits. Their income presents a 12.6% mean annual increase while expenses reached 17.9% respectively. Financial resources of surgical cases increased 63% and pathological 25% over the period 2002-2006, with a 27% income increase of gynaecological AOC 21% of orthopaedics and 7% of ophthalmologic. Social funds do not reimburse AOC visits and patients’ out of pocket payments are the main sources of the AOC funding.  CONCLUSIONS: The operation of the AOC is encouraging, since it motivates health professionals to increase their income, the hospital to exploit its full potential, offers patients access to quality health care and covers unmet needs. The fact that the operation of the AOC is based on patients’ direct payments remains a contradiction with the full coverage of the Greek population for the provision of outpatient and impatient care in the public sector. The lack of contracting negotiations between the social insurance funds and the regional or hospital authorities remains a problem for which the state owes to make policy decisions, since the prices that are overwhelmed are almost competitive to the private sector and overload disproportionately the lower incomes.