Pharmacies, drugs and contraception
For minor complaints it's enough to go to the local farmakío . Greek pharmacists are highly trained and dispense a number of medicines which elsewhere could only be prescribed by a doctor. In the larger towns and resorts there'll usually be one who speaks good English. Pharmacies are usually closed evenings and Saturday mornings, but all should have a monthly schedule (in both English and Greek) on their door showing the complete roster of night and weekend duty pharmacists in town.

Greeks are famously hypochondriac, so pharmacies are veritable Aladdin's caves of arcane drugs and sundry formulas - just about everything available in North America and northern Europe is here, and then some. Homeopathic and herbal remedies are quite widely available, too, and the largest towns have dedicated homeopathic pharmacies, identified by the characteristic green cross. There is a large homeopathic centre in Athens at Nikosthénous 8, Platía Plastíra, Pangráti tel 010/70 98 199; the Centre of Homeopathic Medicine is at Perikléous 1, Maroússi tel 010/80 52 671.

If you regularly use any form of prescription drug , you should bring along a copy of the prescription, together with the generic name of the drug; this will help should you need to replace it, and also avoids possible problems with customs officials. In this regard, it's worth being aware that codeine is banned in Greece. If you import any you might find yourself in serious trouble, so check labels carefully; it's the core ingredient of Panadeine, Veganin, Solpadeine, Codis and Empirin-Codeine, to name just a few common compounds.

Hayfever sufferers should be prepared for the early Greek pollen season, at its height from April to June. If you are taken by surprise, you'll be able to get tablets and creams at a pharmacy, but it's cheaper to come prepared. Commercial antihistamines like Triludan are difficult to find in smaller towns, and local brands can be overpriced.

Contraceptive pills are more readily available every year, but don't count on getting these - or spermicidal jelly/foam - outside of a few large island towns, over-the-counter at the larger farmakía ; Greek women tend not to use any sort of birth control systematically, and have an average of four abortions during their adult life. Condoms , however, are inexpensive and ubiquitous - just ask for profylaktiká (the slangy terms plastiká or slightly vulgar kapótes are even better understood) at any pharmacy or corner períptero (kiosk).

Women's hygienic supplies are sold in pharmacies or in supermarkets near the toilet paper and diapers. Napkins ("Always" brand) are ubiquitous; tampons can be trickier to find in remoter spots, especially on the smaller islands.

Doctors and hospitals
You'll find English-speaking doctors in any of the bigger towns or resorts; the tourist police, hotel staff or even your consulate should be able to come up with some names if you have any difficulty.

For an ambulance , phone 166. In emergencies - cuts, broken bones, etc - treatment is given free in state hospitals , though you will only get the most basic level of nursing care. Greek families routinely take in food and bedding for relatives, so as a tourist you'll be at a severe disadvantage. Somewhat better are the ordinary state-run outpatient clinics ( yiatría ) attached to most public hospitals and also found in rural locales. These operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so go early; usual hours are 8am to noon, though it's sometimes possible to get seen by someone between 1 and 5pm.