Greece Passes Law for Automatic Recognition of U.S. Medical Specialization - Canada Next?

In a landmark development for Greek physicians abroad, the Hellenic Parliament has officially passed a new amendment enabling automatic recognition of medical specialties and subspecialties obtained in the United States. This groundbreaking legislation, passed on April 30, 2025, marks a significant reduction in bureaucratic hurdles and a major step toward facilitating the return of internationally trained Greek doctors to practice in Greece. The development is particularly encouraging for members of the Canadian Hellenic Medical Society, as it may set a precedent for the future recognition of Canadian medical training.

The amendment was introduced by Filippos Fortomas, Member of Parliament for the Cyclades and Chair of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad, as part of the government’s broader strategy to reverse brain drain and create clear pathways for skilled diaspora professionals to reintegrate into Greek society.

Filippos Fortomas, MP for the Cyclades and Chair of the Special Permanent Committee on Greeks Abroad, introduces the amendment in Parliament on April 30, 2025 that establishes automatic recognition of U.S. medical specialties — a key milestone for the Greek medical diaspora.

Under the new legal framework established by the Ministry of Health:

• Physicians certified by U.S. medical boards will now be able to automatically receive recognition of their specialty in Greece through a simple application to the Panhellenic Medical Association.

• Subspecialty certification will also be recognized automatically upon submission of official documentation, provided the subspecialty exists within the Greek healthcare system.

  
  

This initiative was strongly endorsed by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who, in a recent teleconference with Greek medical professionals in the U.S. and Greece, underscored the government's commitment to removing administrative barriers:

“We decided to cut through the Gordian knot and move forward with automatic recognition for those certified in the United States, making it easier for them to offer their services in Greece.”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with Greek medical professionals in the U.S. and Greece

The law has been enthusiastically received by prominent figures in the diaspora, including Dr. George Chrousos, Dr. Jenny Gourgari, and Dr. Christos Kyriakopoulos, who described the legislation as "historic" and emphasized its importance in enabling skilled Greek physicians to return, collaborate, and contribute to the country’s medical and academic ecosystem.

This law is part of a broader national effort to attract back highly trained Greeks abroad—what has come to be known as the “brain gain” strategy—which includes additional incentives such as a 50% income tax reduction for seven years for returning tax residents.

As part of the national dialogue around this initiative, the upcoming Annual BrainReGain Conference will feature a dedicated panel session titled "Η Υγεία Επιστρέφει Σπίτι: Προβλήματα στελέχωσης & προκλήσεις επαναπατρισμού" (“Healthcare Comes Home: Staffing Challenges & Repatriation Obstacles”), which will explore:

• The barriers that continue to keep Greek health professionals abroad

• Progress made to date in addressing these issues

• What further steps are needed to make Greece more attractive to returning professionals

  
  

🗓 Tuesday, May 6th, 2025

🕚 11:55 AM – 12:35 PM (Greece time)

📍 Livestream available

Speakers:

• Adonis Georgiadis – Minister of Health

• Nikos Arkadopoulos – Dean, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

• Lemprina Barbebtaki – President & CEO, AbbVie Greece

• Giorgos Sofianos – CEO, Sofmedica & Head of the BrainReGain Task Force

Moderator: Dr. Popi Kalaitzi – Vice President, BrainReGain

At the Canadian Hellenic Medical Society, we view this legislation as a hopeful and promising development. Given the shared structure and high standards of North American medical training, we are optimistic that this decision will pave the way for easier recognition of Canadian medical credentials in the near future.

➡️ We will be actively pursuing collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Health to advocate for the automatic recognition of Canadian medical training in a manner equal to that of the United States. Our goal is to ensure that Greek-trained physicians in Canada — and Canadian-trained physicians of Greek heritage — have fair and direct access to licensing pathways in Greece.

As part of our ongoing mission, we are currently developing a clear, step-by-step guide to be published on our upcoming new website later this summer, outlining how Canadian-trained physicians can have their credentials recognized in Greece — and likewise, how Greek-trained physicians can navigate licensure pathways in Canada. We believe transparency and access to information are key to empowering Greeks on both sides of the Atlantic.

We remain committed to supporting Greek-Canadian physicians considering a return to Greece — whether to practice, teach, or collaborate, permanently, or part-time. This new legal framework and the upcoming BrainReGain discussions present a unique moment to re-engage with Greece’s evolving healthcare system.