“This will be the four years of healthsaid the Minister of Health Michalis Chrysochoidis, has just taken to the floor of the plenary session to discuss the programmatic statements. “We want a health system, of which Greek men and women will be proud”, said Mr. Chrysochoidis.

“There is not even a minute’s time to delay. In previous years, significant interventions were made in the midst of a great storm. Our goal is the re-establishment of the NHS. In the new four-year period, the priorities are to strengthen the NHS and the EKAB with staff and means, the strengthening of health centers, hospital reforms, mental health, the new health map, primary health care, the institution of the personal doctor, the preventive checks that save citizens’ lives but also the centralization of supplies, that is, financial issues”, said the Minister of Health and informed that the actions of the Recovery Fund will be accelerated, regarding the new emergency departments and the new health centers. Screening and mental health programs will also be stepped up.

“We do not promise miracles, but we are committed to work with dedication to increase the degree of satisfaction and access of citizens to public health structures. The challenge is historic,” said Michalis Chrysochoidis and in this climate informed that:

– They will move on risk factor prevention programs and chronic diseases.

– In primary care, it is established the institution of the personal doctor, health centers are strengthened and the operation of mobile health units is upgraded. A central monitoring mechanism for the personal doctor and compliance with the institution is created, new medical possibilities are included, it is possible to join National Health Service doctors who serve in secondary or tertiary care structures. 156 health centers will be strengthened by renovation, medical technological equipment will be upgraded in 312 health centers, the skills of health center staff will be upgraded and specialized treatments will be provided in health centers and telemedicine and care in remote areas will be expanded. There will be an upgrade of the operation of the mobile units, their staffing with a multidisciplinary health team, new health services will be available from the mobile units and medical assistance and care will be provided to vulnerable groups of residents.

– Programs will be implemented for the mental health of the general population and vulnerable groups. The plan includes the development of new mental health structures, psychosocial support structures for children and adolescents, the creation of 106 new mental health units and the establishment of new limited liability social cooperatives, with the aim of psychosocial rehabilitation through the provision of employment to people with chronic problems. The development of programs for mental health professionals and workers is envisaged.

– In relation to health services, the health map will be redesigned, the needs of the population will be captured by Region and region, the type of care provided by each hospital will be determined, there will be an interconnection of structures and health services, telemedicine will be utilized, controls will be quality indicators, the required number of doctors will be determined.

– In relation to hospitals, there will be modernization of 96 hospitals in the country, with emblematic interventions such as the expansion of the oncology clinic and the new radiotherapy center at the General Hospital of Lamia and the addition of a new oncology ward at the General University Hospital of Heraklion, the establishment of a radiotherapy center at the Sotiria Hospital, the construction of a building in Papanikolaou Thessaloniki for gene and cell therapies and hematology clinic laboratories in the same hospital. There will be development of post-hospital and long-term health care structures, development of palliative care structures and geriatric units. At the same time, modern rehabilitation centers will be created and home services will be developed. The new framework concerns a wide range of patients and mainly concerns children.

– Emergency department services will be upgraded, 58 TEPs will be renovated, upgraded and digitized by the EKAB, with the aim of more efficient and faster emergency service. “The immediate intervention legislated by the government, with the act of legislative content, is at the stage of implementation with 191 ambulance crews, from the armed forces and the Fire Brigade, which are placed in 61 island areas, touristic and inaccessible areas. I inform the Parliament that today the procedure for the immediate recruitment of 20 people for the ambulances of Attica is being completed. Within the next few days, the platform for other auxiliary staff will be opened, for the recruitment of 250 people, ambulance crews branch with a two-year term, for the immediate staffing of EKAB services in Attica. They also include 40 motorcyclists, who will rush to the incidents even faster. I hope there will be interest in the nominations.”

– In the pharmaceutical policy, access to the most modern treatments is ensured, the investment initiatives of the domestic pharmaceutical industry are strengthened, to increase domestic production, research and development.

– There will be a balancing of health care budgets, in terms of cost control, drug costs, system efficiency and access to new innovative drugs.

– The selection of hospital administrations will be based on merit-based criteria. The geographical competence of the health regions will be redrawn, the cooperation of the Ministry of Health in the regional hospitals will be promoted.

– 10,000 permanent recruitments will proceed, targeted to meet the needs of each region.

– There will be utilization of the immovable property of the hospitals.

– The electronic prescription system will be strengthened, the electronic patient file will be completed.