The easing of the clawback monopolized the greeting of the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis at the event of the Medical Association of Athens for the completion of 100 years since its establishment.

It is recalled that the laboratory doctors in the Region – 1,400 diagnostic centers – continue for a third week their mobilizations with the main demand for the abolition of clawback.

The minister focused on the measures that have already been taken to limit the clawback of diagnostic centers and laboratory doctors, which he said has shot up from 7% 10 years ago, in some cases over 40%, which apart from the effects on providers and increases the budget.

He spoke about the implementation of treatment protocols, active control in cases of high demand and digital format in all exams from June 1.

At the same time, he announced that IDIKA will be automatically locked in the “S. Doxiadis” all screening tests prescribed by doctors that will be exempt from clawback. The measure was recently discussed with the Coordinating Body of PFI Agencies, with the aim of easing the clawback.

G. Patoulis: national strategy for public health

Opening the event entitled, “100 years of ISA. Modern challenges of the professional doctor”, the president of ISA Giorgos Patoulis, said that this year the largest Medical Association of the country is celebrating 100 years of an important journey, in the context of which initiatives were taken and important matches were given for the benefit of the doctors – its members, of patients but also of Health.

He underlined the serious understaffing problems faced by the health structures, stressing that “the state has failed throughout time to utilize the lively medical potential and provide incentives” so that it remains in our country. “Greek doctors staff the health systems of the rest of the countries they resort to to ensure decent working conditions and pay,” he said.

He expressed the opinion that there should be a quality and strong pillar of public health and at the same time the private sector should operate in addition to cover the needs.

“It must be understood that health without doctors is not possible. The state must invest in public health, allocating the required funds and ensuring decent work conditions for the health workforce,” he stressed.

Mr. Patoulis referred to the struggles that the ISA has fought over the years for the support of freelance doctors and the abolition of Clawback, “an unfair measure that leads to the financial suffocation of neighborhood clinics”. At the same time, he added, he is also fighting for better working conditions and better pay for doctors in public health structures.

“Our country has all the conditions to chart a development course in the field of health and to ensure high-level health services, not only for Greek citizens but also for the global patient,” said Mr. Patoulis.

To do this, however, as he said, there should be a structured national strategy for public health, which should be implemented independently of governments and political leaders.

“Piecemeal measures cannot work. They temporarily cover one problem and at the same time others pop up.

Health policy must be stable without partisanship, based on a long-term plan that all governments must serve.”

According to Mr. Patoulis, the main pillars of this strategy should be:

Increase funding and support of public health structures

A sustainable Primary Health Care system, with the input of local government

Health coverage of the entire country based on the health map

Supporting doctors, especially the young ones and abolishing the tax collection measures that lead to the financial impoverishment of the self-employed doctor.

Cooperation of the private sector with the public sector for the benefit of the patient

“Public health needs a vision and a long-term strategy. The issue is non-negotiable: Quality services for all citizens in the farthest reaches of Greece, regardless of their financial means”, concluded Mr. Patoulis.

The rector of EKPA G. Siassos and the ND MEP candidate S. Kybouropoulos addressed the event.