OBJECTIVES The aim of the paper is to map the impact of economic crisis on the Greek health care system and on the population health METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted in databases Pubmed, Embase and Scopus for the years 1980-2013, focusing mainly to the impact of the economic crisis in Latin America, Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia. In order to assess the impact of crisis in Greece, Hellenic Statistical Authority (EL.STAT.), Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), OECD, Eurostat and World Bank databases were used. RESULTS Greece entered a deep economic crisis in 2009 and in only four years lost more than 25% of its GDP. Unemployment rate exceeded 27% of the population in 2013, the number of uninsured population reached 2 million according to the Ministry of Labour (2014) whereas the rate of population at risk of poverty or social exclusion has increased from 27.6% in 2009 to 34.6% in 2012. Total current health expenditure decreased by €5.4 billion (23.7%)  while public current health expenditure fell by a greater proportion, 25.2% or €4bn between 2009 and 2012. At the same time the use of public services (e.g. hospital admissions) and waiting times increased. Regarding the health outcomes, an increase in the incidence rate of HIV/AIDS per million population by 10% was recorded. Incidence of Hepatitis A was increased by 187.5% and meningitis by 87% between 2011-2013. Total mortality rate was increased by 3.2% while expressed unmet healthcare needs were increased by 55% between 2009-2011. CONCLUSIONS The efforts to reform the Greek National Health System have been focusing mainly on short-term effects by reducing expenditure. However, health-promoting policies providing equitable access, especially regarding the vulnerable groups, and infectious diseases prevention should be considered as a more cost-effective alternative.