Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
DIVISION OF SECTORAL STATISTICS (B5) / SECTION OF HEALTH & SOCIAL PROTECTION STATISTICS (B54)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Pireos 46 and Eponiton, ΤΚ 185 10 Pireas
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
28 February 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 February 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
28 February 2025
3.1. Data description
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
Specifically, screening data (mammography, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer) are based on Health Survey, a sampling survey, conducted by ELSTAT every 5 years.
3.2. Classification system
For the collection of data on healthcare non- expenditure, the classifications used in the CIRCAB
and its related set of International Classification for the Health Accounts are applied.
For hospital discharges, the International Shortlist for Hospital Morbidity Tabulation (ISHMT) is used.
For Health Employment, the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications apply.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
Where possible, the statistics are separated by sex (male/female), age group and NUTS2 region.
National deviations: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Public health.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
National changes of statistical concepts and national definitions deviating from Regulation (EU) 2022/2294: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
3.5. Statistical unit
Registered health professionals or health care facility categories.
3.6. Statistical population
All health care staff.
All available beds or equipment in hospitals or in nursing and residential care facilities.
All discharges or procedures performed in all hospitals.
3.7. Reference area
Complete national territory
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data are available in hardcopies from 1992 onwards. From 2000 onwards, data are available in an electronic format.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable
Number of hospitals by speciality, the number of personnel (medical and non-medical staff), the number of high technology equipment by type and the number of beds available of hospitals.
Number of physicians, dentists, physiotherapists and pharmacists.
Number of students who have graduated in medicine from medical faculties or similar institutions.
Number of people aged 65 and over who have been immunised.
Number of diagnostic exams.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Joint Questionnaire on Non-Monetary Health Care Statistics, which is carried by Eurostat, OECD and WHO-Europe.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The issues concerning the observance of statistical confidentiality by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) are arranged by articles 7, 8 and 9 of the Law 3832/2010 as in force, by Articles 8, 10 and 11(2) of the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System and by Articles 10 and 15 of the Regulation on the Operation and Administration of ELSTAT.
ELSTAT abides by the commitments and obligations arising from the applicable EU and national legislation on the protection of the individual from the processing of personal data and the relevant decisions, guidelines and regulatory acts of the Hellenic Data Protection Authority.
Pursuant to the Regulation on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data [Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR)], ELSTAT implements the appropriate technical and organisational measures for ensuring adequate level of security against risks for the personal data it collects and has access to, in the context of carrying out its tasks, in order to meet the requirements of this Regulation and to protect these personal data from any unauthorised access or illegal processing.
The personal data collected by ELSTAT are used exclusively for purposes related to the conduct of surveys and the production of relevant statistics. Only ELSTAT has access to the data. The controller is the person appointed by law pursuant to the relevant provisions concerning the Legal Entities of Public Law and the Independent Authorities. The data are stored in the databases of ELSTAT for as long as required by the relevant legislation.
ELSTAT protects and does not disseminate data it has obtained or it has access to, which enable the direct or indirect identification of the statistical units that have provided them by the disclosure of individual information directly received for statistical purposes or indirectly supplied from administrative or other sources. ELSTAT takes all appropriate preventive measures so as to render impossible the identification of individual statistical units by technical or other means that might reasonably be used by a third party. Statistical data that could potentially enable the identification of the statistical unit are disseminated by ELSTAT if and only if:
a) these data have been treated, as it is specifically set out in the Regulation on Statistical Obligations of the agencies of the Hellenic Statistical System (ELSS), in such a way that their dissemination does not prejudice statistical confidentiality or
b) the statistical unit has given its consent, without any reservations, for the disclosure of data.
The confidential data that are transmitted by ELSS agencies to ELSTAT are used exclusively for statistical purposes and the only persons who have the right to have access to these data are the personnel engaged in this task and appointed by an act of the President of ELSTAT.
ELSTAT may grant researchers conducting statistical analyses for scientific purposes access to data that enable the indirect identification of the statistical units concerned. The access is granted provided the following conditions are satisfied:
a) an appropriate request together with a detailed research proposal in conformity with current scientific standards have been submitted;
b) the research proposal indicates in sufficient detail the set of data to be accessed, the methods of analyzing them, and the time needed for the research;
c) a contract specifying the conditions for access, the obligations of the researchers, the measures for respecting the confidentiality of statistical data and the sanctions in case of breach of these obligations has been signed by the individual researcher, by his/her institution, or by the organization commissioning the research, as the case may be, and by ELSTAT.
Issues referring to the observance of statistical confidentiality are examined by the Statistical Confidentiality Committee (SCC) operating in ELSTAT. The responsibilities of this Committee are to make recommendations to the President of ELSTAT on:
the level of detail at which statistical data can be disseminated, so as the identification, either directly or indirectly, of the surveyed statistical unit is not possible;
the anonymization criteria for the microdata provided to users;
the granting to researchers access to confidential data for scientific purposes.
The staff of ELSTAT, under any employment status, as well as the temporary survey workers who are employed for the collection of statistical data in statistical surveys conducted by ELSTAT, who acquire access by any means to confidential data, are bound by the principle of confidentiality and must use these data exclusively for the statistical purposes of ELSTAT. After the termination of their term of office, they are not allowed to use these data for any purpose.
Violation of data confidentiality and/or statistical confidentiality by any civil servant or employee of ELSTAT constitutes the disciplinary offence of violation of duty and may be punished with the penalty of final dismissal.
ELSTAT, by its decision, may impose a penalty amounting from ten thousand (10,000) up to two hundred thousand (200,000) euros to anyone who violates the confidentiality of data and/or statistical confidentiality. The penalty is always imposed after the hearing of the defense of the person liable for the breach, depending on the gravity and the repercussions of the violation. Any relapse constitutes an aggravating factor for the assessment of the administrative sanction.
Pursuant to the Regulation on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data [Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR)], ELSTAT implements the appropriate technical and organisational measures for ensuring adequate level of security against risks for the personal data it collects and has access to, in the context of carrying out its tasks, in order to meet the requirements of this Regulation and to protect these personal data from any unauthorised access or illegal processing.
8.1. Release calendar
Data are to be announced approximately twelve-fourteen months after the end of the reference year.
According to the legal framework of the Community and the «European Statistics Code of Practice», ELSTAT announces the results of the survey at its website at «Statistics> Population and Social Conditions>Health Care». Equal user access to data is defined by the European Statistics Code of Practice of Eurostat with respect to the professional independency and in objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users all users are treated equally. Data are not disseminated to users prior to their announcement.
Annually. Data are usually announced (12) twelve months after the end of the reference year and for health professionals and fourteen (14) months for hospitals, beds, high technology machinery and immunisation.
The Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS), which is the standard for quality reporting, is published in the Eurostat Database for every variable pertaining to the Joint, non-Monetary Health Care questionnaire, as from reference year 2021.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality management is performed throughout the whole process from data collection to the compilation of tables with the annual data.
Data are collected through the completion of an electronic questionnaire by every unit. These data are codified, checked for completeness and correctness in communication with the administrative sources and are compared with data of the previous years. The Register of Hospitals is updated on the basis of the data of the reference year (opening of new units, final closure of existing ones, temporary closure, changes in specialty, changes on names and ownership). During computer processing data checks are conducted for the correction of errors. The produced tables are also checked in order to ensure comparability of the time series.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The quality of data is considered satisfactory. Quality checks are conducted throughout the whole process from data collection to the compilation of tables with the final data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users are individuals or agencies involved in the health sector for professional or training – research purposes along with International Organizations such as OECD, EUROSTAT and WHO.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User’s needs are to be followed on a regular basis by the Division of Sectoral Statistics and the Department of Health Statistics and Social Protection. In general, there is smooth cooperation and as far as possible direct response to requests. At the same time, the Division of Statistical Information and Publications of ELSTAT conducts the user’s satisfaction survey every year
12.3. Completeness
Completeness is considered satisfactory. There is an ongoing improvement for the provision of complete information to users.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy and reliability of data are considered high since the data refers to census and data questionnaires are completed by the responsible sources with a great response rate amounting to 100%.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
According to the legal framework of the Community and the «European Statistics Code of Practice», ELSTAT announces the results of the survey at its website at «Statistics> Population and Social Conditions>Health Care».
The data is transmitted to Eurostat at 2 months after the collection and most of those published after 3 months.
Equal user access to data is defined by the European Statistics Code of Practice of Eurostat with respect to the professional independency and in objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users all users are treated equally. Data are not disseminated to users prior to their announcement.
14.2. Punctuality
Data of every year are to publish 12-14 months after the end of the reference year and are transmitted to Eurostat through the Joint Questionnaire.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
There is comparability at the level of the Region (NUTS 2) since the methodology that is applied is the same all over Greece. Moreover, data are comparable with other countries within the framework of filling in the «OECD Eurostat-Who-Europe Joint Questionnaire» on Non Financial Health Care Statistics.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The data are comparable over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
There is cross-domain coherence. The Division of Sectoral Statistics for both the survey on «Hospital discharged in-patients» and the «Hospital census» uses a common Register of Hospitals.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The variables, the definitions and the classification systems that are used are internally coherent with the definitions provided by the Joint Questionnaire («OECD Eurostat –Who-Europe Joint Questionnaire» on Non Economic Health Care Statistics).
There is no extra cost and burden apart from the operating expenses of the relevant department of Sectoral Statistics Division of ELSTAT.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) implements the following revision policy
17.2. Data revision - practice
The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) implements the following revision policy
Routine revisions are changes in published data which are related to the regular data production process (e.g. estimated values for missing responses are replaced by reported figures). Major revisions are changes in published data, often substantial, which are due to one of the following reasons.
18.1. Source data
Source data for the different variables are given in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual.
18.3. Data collection
Questionnaires are filled by the administrative sources of the hospitals and are transmitted to ELSTAT electronically.
18.4. Data validation
Data are validated through qualitative and quantitative checks that are based on crosschecking of primary data with the corresponding data of the previous year.
18.5. Data compilation
Once collected, the data undergo logical checks, they are codified, imported in the electronic database, are tabulated and finally they are published.
Statistics on healthcare non-expenditure provide information on healthcare human resources, healthcare facilities, and healthcare utilisation.
The people active in the healthcare sector (doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.) and their status (graduates, practising, migration of doctors and nurses, etc.);
The available healthcare technical resources and facilities (hospital beds, beds in residential care facilities, medical technology, etc.);
The health activities or patient contacts undertaken (hospital discharges, surgical procedures, ambulatory care data, etc.).
Annual national and regional data are provided in absolute numbers or as a rate of a relevant population.
Data are based mainly on administrative records (see section 18.1 ‘Source data’ for more information).
Specifically, screening data (mammography, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer) are based on Health Survey, a sampling survey, conducted by ELSTAT every 5 years.
28 February 2025
The healthcare non-expenditure statistics describe the public health sector from a non-monetary perspective. The statistics explain the number or rate of different healthcare resources, facilities and utilisations. A wide range of indicators are collected from a multitude of sources and therefore, details pertaining to individual variables are given in the Annex.
Definitions of mandatory variables are laid down in Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2294.
National changes of statistical concepts and national definitions deviating from Regulation (EU) 2022/2294: see Annex at the bottom of the page.
Registered health professionals or health care facility categories.
All health care staff.
All available beds or equipment in hospitals or in nursing and residential care facilities.
All discharges or procedures performed in all hospitals.
Complete national territory
Calendar year.
Overall accuracy and reliability of data are considered high since the data refers to census and data questionnaires are completed by the responsible sources with a great response rate amounting to 100%.
Number of hospitals by speciality, the number of personnel (medical and non-medical staff), the number of high technology equipment by type and the number of beds available of hospitals.
Number of physicians, dentists, physiotherapists and pharmacists.
Number of students who have graduated in medicine from medical faculties or similar institutions.
Number of people aged 65 and over who have been immunised.
Number of diagnostic exams.
Once collected, the data undergo logical checks, they are codified, imported in the electronic database, are tabulated and finally they are published.
Source data for the different variables are given in the Annex at the bottom of the page.
Annually. Data are usually announced (12) twelve months after the end of the reference year and for health professionals and fourteen (14) months for hospitals, beds, high technology machinery and immunisation.
According to the legal framework of the Community and the «European Statistics Code of Practice», ELSTAT announces the results of the survey at its website at «Statistics> Population and Social Conditions>Health Care».
The data is transmitted to Eurostat at 2 months after the collection and most of those published after 3 months.
Equal user access to data is defined by the European Statistics Code of Practice of Eurostat with respect to the professional independency and in objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users all users are treated equally. Data are not disseminated to users prior to their announcement.
There is comparability at the level of the Region (NUTS 2) since the methodology that is applied is the same all over Greece. Moreover, data are comparable with other countries within the framework of filling in the «OECD Eurostat-Who-Europe Joint Questionnaire» on Non Financial Health Care Statistics.
