Health Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis called the bill entitled “National Network of Advanced Care Units for the treatment of patients with Vascular Strokes (VAS-AEE)” an intervention that will contribute to the reduction of deaths and disabilities from strokes, which was passed after the midnight from Thursday to Friday by the plenary session of the Parliament.

On the principle of the bill, ND, Spartans, Niki and Pleussi Eleftherias voted “yes”; SYRIZA, PASOK-Change Movement, KKE and Hellenic Solution declared “absent”.

We have 57,000 strokes in our country and they are treated in a faulty way, said Mr. Chrysochoidis, pointing out that the bill creates five MAF-AEE in the Athens basin, two in the Thessaloniki complex, one each in the country’s university hospitals (Alexandroupoli, Larissa, Ioannina, Patra, Heraklion) and in areas such as Lesvos, Rhodes, Corfu, Kozani and Kalamata, so that there is a geographical distribution.

Speaking about the “critical issue” of how the incidents reach the MAF, he said that at the moment there is an air transport network which makes 2,200 transports with “Stavros Niarchos” aircraft and helicopters from Elefsina and there are also the Army helicopters, which – as he pointed out – sometimes they present problems.

He underlined that the government will establish six helicopter bases across the country. The plan means that there will be the possibility, in addition to search and rescue, in cases of accidents to be airlifted quickly.

For the necessary staff, he announced immediate recruitment, with 1,500 doctors and 3,000 nurses, while he spoke about the discussions that are taking place with competent agencies for the staffing of the MAF with qualified doctors and the necessary equipment: “Nothing has happened by chance so far. Studies were done on the sites and in a few weeks at least two (MAF) will start to be implemented, assured the Minister of Health.

At the same time, he announced that he will soon bring the government’s policy on trauma to the Parliament for discussion, referring to traffic accidents, especially young people who are injured in traffic accidents with motorcycles.

He also said that the government will also answer about the lists of surgeries: “We legislated to have a picture in a month, and then we will give an answer. We will not leave anything like this,” he said, calling on the parties to do more constructive opposition

What will change the situation in the treatment of strokes is the immediate intervention with flying and floating means, and the treatment of patients in public hospitals with modern digital angiographers, emphasized in his speech the SYRIZA MP, Pavlos Polakis, who called on the government to use the money of the Recovery Fund for the supply of equipment. Citing examples from areas of Greece such as Amorgos, Paxos and Halkidiki, he criticized the government for not maintaining helicopters and watercraft, which operated under SYRIZA, and called on it to clash with private centers in Athens and Thessaloniki that handle incidents which should be directed to public hospitals. As stated by the spokesperson of the main opposition party Ozgur Ferhat, SYRIZA-PS will declare “present”: The intentions of the initiators of the bill may be good, but the very nature of the government and its neoliberal anchors, which lead the public health in disintegration, does not allow anyone to be optimistic, he stressed

According to the rapporteur of the majority ND MP V. Yogiaka, with the bill the foundations are laid, the framework is laid, so that there are more and better units to effectively manage stroke patients in the acute phase stage. As he noted, even this initial network of units is estimated to yield significant measurable benefits: A reduction in stroke deaths by one hundred and fifty per year. Reduction of disabled patients, i.e. those hospitalized in rehabilitation centers, by approximately one thousand two hundred and eighty per year. Reduction of hospitalization by four days for each stroke patient. In short, less mortality, less disability and greater functionality for those who survive.

The need for recruitment for the staffing of the units and the expansion of the MAF stroke network in all prefectures was noted by MPs from the minor opposition parties.

There is no planning in the bill, PASOK-Change Movement MP Ioannis Tsimaris pointed out. He estimated that there is no will to fully utilize the Recovery Fund and indicated that his party will declare “present”.

KKE MP G. Lambroulis said that he will vote in attendance, noting that the bill is part of the strategic targeting to reduce patient costs for the state and insurance funds.

Hellenic Solution MP Maria Athanasiou expressed her reservations about the project and its effectiveness.

The bill was drawn up “on the fly”, said Michalis Gavgiotakis of the Spartiates Association.

The rapporteur of the KO, Niki Aspasia Kouroupaki, spoke about the lack of strategic planning and insufficient staffing of the MAF-AEE.

In favor of the bill, as it “moves in the right direction”, the president of Freedom of Navigation, Zoe Konstantopoulou, spoke.

Amendment 31/7 was also passed, which includes a provision for the influenza vaccination of the adult population during the period 2023-2024. As mentioned in the text, the conventional quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (class QIVe) is fully reimbursed by the National Health Service Provision Organization and other insurance funds, without the need to present a medical prescription. Also, it is foreseen that the flu vaccination is carried out by doctors in the private or public sector, regardless of specialty, as well as by pharmacists. ND and Spartans voted “yes” to the amendment, SYRIZA, PASOK and Pleussi Eleftherias declared “present”, while KKE, Hellenic Solution and Niki voted “no”.