University Health Care

All students of the International Hellenic University who are not covered by any other health insurance may receive treatment, including hospitalisation, and medication (under the provisions of Law 327/1983).

Undergraduate students are covered by these provisions for the standard number of years of study for their degree plus a further two years* if they have not completed all course units. Postgraduate students are covered by these provisions for the standard number of years of study for their degree plus half that number again if studies have not been completed.

(*up to 31 December)

For further information, please contact Ms Sotiria Aggelidou, tel. 2310 807531 (08.30-14.30)

Health Book

If you require health care cover, you should apply for a Health Book at your School Office.

Applications and the respective formal declaration that you are not covered by any other state health insurance are available from the School Office. The Health Book must be validated at the start of every academic year (September).

You will need your Health Book to receive treatment. Please do not lose it. Replacement may take two months.

Please inform the School Secretary as soon as possible if you are admitted to hospital (tel. 2310 807523) giving information about which hospital and ward you are in.

If you need to see a doctor:

If you need to consult a doctor, you can go either to any state hospital or health centre in the Thessaloniki area or to the University Health Service of the Students Club of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki [referred to henceforth as University Health Service]. Please see Note 1 below for instructions for when you are not in the Thessaloniki area and you are in need of treatment.

Please note, in all cases you will need to present your Health Book to prove entitlement.

The University Health Service is located on the ground floor of the Students Club (“Fititiki Leschi”), at the corner of Nea Egnatia and 3^rd September Streets, opposite the University of Macedonia. You can visit the University Health Service doctor during surgery hours without an appointment (weekdays 9:00 – 12:45).

If your condition is too severe to allow you to go to the University Health Service surgery, you can call the doctor during working hours (tel. 2310 992642) to ask for advice and instructions.

For hospital treatment or surgery by appointment, you must obtain approval of the procedure prior to hospital admittance. Take your doctor’s referral and appointment information to the University Health Service up to 4 days before admittance to be issued a formal university referral approval.

If hospital treatment is urgent or if the above approval procedure is delayed and you are admitted directly for treatment, you must alert the University Health Service within 2 working days. If the Health Service receives no such notification and approval is not given, the expenses will be borne by the student.

If you go to a state hospital outpatients department or a health centre, let them know you are a student at the International Hellenic University and present your Student Health Book. You will not need to pay for most standard procedures (see list below). The hospital applies to the IHU Financial Department for reimbursement of its costs.

The expenses covered include:

• medical examination
• orthopaedic equipment
• one pair of spectacle frames, costing no more than 6€, for the duration of studies.
• once per year, prescribed corrective lenses costing no more than 3€ and contact lenses costing no more than 15€.
• hospital examination
• medication
• clinical tests
• giving birth
• physiotherapy
• dental treatment

The following expenses are not covered:

• hearing aids
• plastic surgery.
• “store-cupboard” medicines (aspirins, paracetamol, etc.)
• cosmetics
• spa therapies
• exclusive nursing fees

Medication

Prescriptions can be written in your Health Book by the hospital doctors, by the University Health Service doctor or by a private doctor. (In the latter case, the cost of the doctor’s visit is NOT covered). All prescriptions must be validated by the University Health Service doctor prior to procuring the medicines.

Prescriptions must be clearly written and include:

• full name of patient
• school
• registration number
• diagnosis
• date
• signature and stamp of doctor

PROCUREMENT OF PRESCRIBED MEDICINES:

Once validated by the University Health Service, prescriptions can be taken to any pharmacy. You will have to pay the full amount due. To claim reimbursement, you must submit the following documents to your School Office within fifteen (15) working days:

The University will reimburse the full amount only if the prescription has first been validated by the University Health Service doctor.

Clinical tests and examinations

If specific tests or examinations are necessary (e.g., blood test, x-rays, etc.), these can be carried out at a state hospital following referral by the University Health Service doctor.

Childbirth Allowance

A childbirth allowance equivalent to that granted to public sector employees is given to female students for natural childbirth or birth by caesarean section, on condition that she or her husband receives no other allowance or assistance from another source.

To claim Childbirth Allowance, you will need to submit the following documentation to the School Office:

If birth was by caesarean section, you should follow the procedure for hospital treatment.

Your medical expenses incurred can only be covered by the University if you give birth in a state hospital.

Physiotherapy

If you need physiotherapy due to injury or illness, you must submit an application to the University Health Service doctor accompanied by the diagnosis and referral of the doctor treating you. The application will be duly considered for approval by the University Health Service.

Physiotherapy sessions are conducted at physiotherapy units of state healthcare institutions following referral by the University Health Service.

Dental treatment

Dental treatment is available for students of IHU at any state hospital with a Dental Department or through a private doctor.

Only expenses for therapeutic treatment are covered, in accordance with the conditions and the fee levels covered for public sector employees. Certification of treatment by the Public Sector Employee Treatment Organisation (OPAD) may be required.

Orthopaedic items

The expenses for orthopaedic items are covered in accordance with the conditions holding for public sector employees only if the requirement has arisen from injury or illness.

In this case, you should submit an application for referral by the University Health Service doctor together with the orthopaedic specialist’s diagnosis.

European Health Insurance Card

If you have a Health Book and plan to travel to other EU countries, you should plan to obtain a European Health Insurance Card, which will allow you to receive treatment under the corresponding national health systems of the other countries. (Students covered for health insurance by other institutions should obtain the card through the latter.) The card is not valid for journeys for medical reasons per se.

Within Greece, you must use your Health Book, not the European Card.

NOTE 1

Treatment can be provided throughout Greece when required away from the area in which the university is based as follows:

A) when students are on field trips or carrying out field work outside the area where the university is based, treatment is provided wherever they are carrying out the above activity or wherever the need arises;

B) in exceptional circumstances where students need special treatment which cannot be provided in hospitals in the area, special referral by the University Health Service doctor and approval by the Governing Board of IHU are required;