Reestablishment of the NHS, was the key phrase used by the new health minister Michalis Chrysochoidis just received it Ministry of Healthstressing that in his field “many critical issues remain unresolved and trouble the lives of citizens, especially the most vulnerable”.

The equal and free access of all citizens, whether they have or do not have the financial means, to quality health services, is the demand of the new leadership of the Ministry of Health, which has set a high political priority the reduction of social inequalities in Health as well.

THE reform of the National Health System it is perhaps the biggest personal bet for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself, at the beginning of his 2nd term, with the aim of ensuring real equality in citizens’ access to the public health system and social structures, as he has said.

They close the gaps with the personal doctor and advance the free screening programs

The reform that started in primary health care with the personal doctor, remains in the priorities of the new leadership in Aristotelous. The aim is to convince – possibly with additional incentives – more doctors to enter the program, so that they can cover a larger number of citizens even in the most densely populated areas of the country. Also a priority is the electronic health file, which should be completed for all patients.

Primary health care is inextricably linked, the political leadership of the Ministry of Health believes, with very innovative initiatives in the field of prevention, some of which have already begun to be implemented, such as breast cancer screening. The goal is for the national public health prevention program “Spyros Doxiadis” to progress quickly and for free preventive examinations to cover all serious diseases and to reach all citizens with electronic and quick appointments, at no cost. Both in the field of public health and prevention, as well as primary health care, the role of the new Deputy Health Minister Irini Agapidaki is expected to be decisive.

The priority is the new health map, the implementation of which went back with the pandemic

The new health map, according to the Ministry of Health, foresees a reorganization of the forces of the National Health Service, hospitals and Health Centers, so as to achieve upgraded and quality health services for all citizens. Now it will have to be implemented by the new Minister of Health, Michalis Chrysochoidis, who has to balance any reactions its implementation may cause in local communities and workers. The health map will be combined with significant interventions in the infrastructure of the National Health System, giving priority to health centers and Emergency Departments. Special weight will be given to the upgrading of 80 hospitals and 156 health centers in the country, with resources from the Recovery Fund. It is requested to technologically modernize and upgrade the buildings, the public health structures.

The necessity of recruitment and the new management of hospitals

The new leadership of the Ministry of Health knows that the big thorn in the system remains the lack of staff, especially nurses. Along with the reorganization of governance structures, 10,000 staff recruitments, mainly nurses, are planned. At the same time, the management model of the hospitals is changing, but apparently also the way of selecting their administrators.

The aim is to save and rationalize health expenses, but also to immediately solve everyday issues, as it has been established that there are still delays and waits in operations, emergency departments and outpatient clinics. The successful – by general admission – management of the difficult project of vaccination, follows the new Deputy Minister Marios Themistokleous who is now called upon to manage, among others, the upgrading of hospital care and more, since from the first information it seems that he is taking over the management of hospitals , from their operational department to that of supply control and monitoring of the “day-to-day”.

Urgent priority is the improvement of the EKAB and the health coverage of the tourist areas

The improvement in the response of EKAB to emergencies, the digital transformation in health, the shielding of the country against the international phenomenon of drug shortages, but also the coverage of tourist areas with doctors and nurses are the issues that the leadership of the Ministry of Health has on her agenda and began to deal with what she took on the new portfolio. Of these, the reinforcement of EKAB with staff, the filling of vacant positions in the ambulance crews and the reduction of the times that ambulances arrive after telephone calls, are urgent priorities. Despite the additional 524 lifeguards, it appears that more are needed so that more shifts can be put in.

At the same time, the upgrade of the Ambulance Service is planned, in order to make it easier, safer and faster to transport patients with the addition of new modern aerial vehicles. There is already talk of 6 airlift bases to cover the gaps on the islands during the summer months.

Prioritizing and reforming mental health and addictions

The establishment and full operation of 56 Mental Health Units are among the government’s priorities in the critical field of mental health where demands are increasing every day. Another issue is the harmonization with common European policies and practices in mental health, but also the integration into modern therapeutic and scientific methods in mental health. This project has been undertaken by the new Deputy Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos.