IVF Medicines in Greece: Prices, Prescriptions, Storage and Travel

“Should I buy my medication at home or in Greece?” This is a question I’m asked with every case. The answer depends on your cover, your timetable and the treatment protocol. Here are the factors to consider when making your decision.

State-set prices

In Greece, the retail price of each medicine in pharmacies is set by the Ministry of Health in an official gazette that is updated regularly. The price is therefore the same in all pharmacies across the country. Here are some examples of official prices in force since February 2026, including 6 per cent VAT:

• Gonal-f pen 900 IU: approximately €243.
• Menopur 75 IU, pack of 5 vials: approximately €100.
• Cetrotide 0.25 mg, pack of 7: approximately €185.
• Ovitrelle 250 µg (trigger injection): approximately €32.

These figures are indicative: they change with each update to the price list, and the total cost depends entirely on your treatment protocol. A full stimulation cycle usually costs between €800 and €2,000 in medication; more for a low-responder on a high-dose regimen. Your clinic can provide an estimate once the protocol has been finalised. See the overall cost of IVF in Greece.

The prescription

Gonadotropins and antagonists are available on prescription. The doctor at the Greek clinic will issue a prescription which any Greek pharmacy will accept. A prescription from another European Union country is, in principle, recognised by Greek pharmacies, provided it includes the required details (name of the patient, doctor, medication, dosage, date and signature); in practice, to avoid any hold-ups, it is simpler to use the prescription issued by the Greek clinic.

If you are starting stimulation treatment at home, the first few packs are usually purchased in your own country, using either your doctor’s prescription or the one from the clinic.

Where to buy

Most clinics work with a local pharmacy that stocks the medicines and is familiar with the protocols. It is advisable to order in advance: some products may be temporarily out of stock. The website’s practical guide includes a map of pharmacies in Thessaloniki; for evenings and weekends, ask the clinic or your hotel which pharmacy is on duty that day.

Reimbursement

Medicines purchased in Greece are not reimbursed by the Greek healthcare system for patients who are not registered with the system. Depending on your country and your insurance, a partial reimbursement may be possible on your return, upon presentation of receipts and prescriptions; for patients from the European Union, the S2 form may sometimes cover part of the costs. Always keep detailed receipts and prescriptions.

The cold chain

Many stimulation medicines must be stored in the fridge (between 2 and 8 °C) before opening; some may then be kept at room temperature for a limited time. Read each package leaflet carefully. At your hotel, ask for a fridge in your room (not a minibar set too cold, which may freeze the medicines); a frozen medicine must not be used.

Travelling with your medicines

• Keep them in your hand luggage, never in the hold: the cold in the hold can freeze them, and a suitcase may go missing.
• Use an insulated bag with ice packs, ensuring they do not come into direct contact with the pens.
• Take your prescription with you and, ideally, a medical certificate in English listing the injectable medicines and needles.
• At security, necessary medicines and liquids are permitted in quantities exceeding the 100 ml limit upon presentation; please declare them.
• Allow a few extra days in case of flight delays.

Further advice can be found in the article on flying whilst undergoing IVF.

Medicines after the transfer

Progesterone (vaginal suppositories, vaginal gel, injections) and sometimes oestrogen are taken until the pregnancy test, and then often until 10–12 weeks of pregnancy. Buy enough to last until your return and when your doctor takes over, and check that the same product, or its equivalent, is available where you live.

What I do for my patients

I check the list with the clinic, I notify the pharmacy in advance, and I make sure everything is ready on the day of your arrival, with an invoice in your name. It’s a small detail — until the evening when a box of Cetrotide goes missing at 9 pm on a Saturday.

Frequently asked questions