The Greek Ministry of Defense has designated certain medical specialties as scarce due to a chronic lack of interest or staffing shortages within the Armed Forces. Beginning February 3, 2026, for a five-year period, specialties such as Medical Biopathology, General Medicine, Pathological Anatomy, Cytology, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Nephrology, Forensic Medicine, and Obstetrics-Gynecology have been classified as scarce. These designations are critical as they highlight areas that need urgent attention in terms of recruitment and retention of medical professionals in the military sector.

In an effort to address the shortage, successful candidates aiming to attain one of these designated specialties will have the opportunity to begin their training immediately, exempt from the obligations typically required for fulfilling service time or administrative duties. This approach not only accelerates the training process but also provides a streamlined pathway for medical professionals to join the military medical community, ultimately aiming to strengthen the capacity of military healthcare services.

Additionally, the Ministry has announced that if the spouse of a military doctor who has obtained a scarce specialty is also a member of the Armed Forces and has requested co-service, they will be granted an exceptional transfer to the location where the military doctor is stationed. This incentive is designed to support families in military service, thereby potentially increasing the appeal of pursuing these necessary but often overlooked specialties in military medicine.