Greece Votes to Automatically Recognize Canadian Medical Specialties

Athens, October 29, 2025 — In a marathon 14-hour parliamentary session that extended past midnight, the Hellenic Parliament voted in favor of a landmark amendment within the Ministry of Health’s bill “Regulations for Strengthening Public Health and Upgrading Healthcare Services.” The reform, embedded in Article 4, establishes the automatic recognition of medical specialties obtained in Canada, marking a pivotal moment for Greek physicians trained abroad.

This measure expands upon the framework adopted earlier in 2025 for specialists trained in the United States, now extending the same streamlined recognition process to those from Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand. Under the new law, physicians may submit their specialty certificates directly through the Panhellenic Medical Association’s online portal and practise in Greece without additional examinations or administrative delays.

This achievement follows months of sustained advocacy by the Canadian Hellenic Medical Society (CHMS) and the Hellenic Medical Association of Quebec (HMAQ), both of which campaigned for equal recognition of Canadian credentials following the U.S. precedent.

In April 2025, CHMS published “Greece Passes Law for Automatic Recognition of U.S. Medical Specialization — Canada Next?”, calling on the Greek government to extend recognition to Canadian-trained specialists. At the same time, CHMS formally reached out to the Ministry of Health and the Panhellenic Medical Association to request that automatic recognition be extended to Canadian‑trained Greek physicians, offering collaboration on implementation details.

In August 2025, CHMS announced that the Minister of Health had personally shared this intention with CHMS Vice‑President Dr. David Rossolatos during a visit to Syros, expressing optimism that recognition for Canadian and Australian specialties was imminent.

On September 30, 2025, CHMS and HMAQ submitted a joint petition to the Minister of Health, signed by 54 Greek‑Canadian physicians, including medical students, residents, and both organizations’ boards of directors. The petition underscored the importance of reversing Greece’s medical brain drain and allowing qualified diaspora physicians to serve in Greece without procedural barriers.

During the October 29 session, Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum praised Article 4 as a forward‑looking policy to modernize Greece’s health system and welcome back its global medical talent.

As stated by Dr. Thomais (Gina) Georgiou Oikonomou, New Democracy MP who introduced the bill:

“Σε συνέχεια πρόσφατης όμοιας νομοθετικής ρύθμισης για γιατρούς εξειδικευμένους στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες της Αμερικής, επιδιώκεται η αναγνώριση των τίτλων ιατρικής εξειδίκευσης που αποκτήθηκαν στον Καναδά, στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, στην Ελβετία, στην Αυστραλία και στη Νέα Ζηλανδία, χωρίς διαδικαστικές προϋποθέσεις που δυσχεραίνουν την ένταξή τους στο ελληνικό σύστημα υγείας, ώστε να ενισχυθεί η χώρα με καταρτισμένους και έμπειρους γιατρούς.”

“Following a recent legislative reform recognizing physicians specialized in the United States, we are now pursuing recognition of medical specialties obtained in Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand, removing procedural barriers that hinder their integration into the Greek health system so our country may be strengthened by skilled and experienced doctors.”

This statement carried special symbolism: Dr. Oikonomou herself trained in Canada, both in Montreal and Toronto, completing a research fellowship (1990–1992) and clinical fellowship in Microsurgery (1997) at the University of Toronto, supported by the Alexander S. Onassis Foundation. Her role in introducing the bill embodied the return of internationally trained expertise to Greece.

Lawmakers highlighted that the law’s purpose was not merely administrative efficiency but a national strategy to repatriate highly trained Greek doctors, bolster regional hospitals, and reinforce the competitiveness of the Greek National Health System. The amendment introducing Article 4 formed part of the 111 articles included in the bill, along with one additional amendment and the closing article.

With this reform, Greek physicians trained and certified in Canada can now practise in Greece simply by submitting their specialty certificates online—no further exams, translations, or ministerial approvals required.

For many Greek‑Canadian doctors, this marks the culmination of years of effort to bridge their professional lives between Canada and Greece and opens new paths for collaboration, exchange, and service within the Hellenic medical diaspora.

Dr. David Rossolatos, Vice‑President of CHMS, commented:

“This milestone demonstrates the collective strength of the Greek‑Canadian medical community. By removing administrative barriers, Greece acknowledges both the excellence of Canadian medical training and the enduring commitment of diaspora physicians eager to contribute to their homeland. We extend our gratitude to the Hellenic Ministry of Health, our partners at HMAQ, and every physician who supported this initiative.”

The Canadian Hellenic Medical Society and the Hellenic Medical Association of Quebec are nonprofit organizations representing physicians, residents, and medical students of Greek heritage across Canada and Quebec. Together, they promote medical collaboration, continuing education, and professional recognition between Canada and Greece.

This legislation marks a new era of collaboration between Greece and its medical diaspora, bridging expertise across continents and reaffirming the enduring bond between Greek physicians worldwide.

To help its members navigate this new process, the Canadian Hellenic Medical Society will soon host a webinar outlining the step-by-step procedure for obtaining a Greek license to practice under the new recognition framework.