“We are committed to building a National Health System that we deserve and that makes us proud. Our vision, in the next five years, is for the NHS to be in the top ten of the public health systems of the states of Europe and to be a model for other countries”, said the Minister of Health, Michalis Chrysochoidis, during his position in the discussion of the 2024 Budget in the Plenary.

Mr. Chrysochoidis stated that “in the program statements we assumed the responsibility to respond to the health needs of the Greek family and this is a battle that we continue to fight on many levels”. The minister underlined that “at the heart of our effort is the further strengthening of the NHS, but also its adaptation to the modern health needs of a society that is constantly changing”.

He announced that “in a few days the restructuring of the country’s hospitals will begin, starting with the appointment of new administrations with worthy executives, who will take the country’s hospitals into the new post-covid era, which is so different in terms of the health care needs of the Greeks and the Greek women”

The minister referred to the four objectives which are “to improve the health of the country’s population. Tackling inequalities in access to health services. Promoting the productivity and quality of health services provided, so as to minimize negative patient experiences. The contribution of the NHS to social and economic development”.

Mr. Chrysochoidis, regarding the implementation of these four goals, said that “we are immediately proceeding with necessary actions, policies and changes in the National Social Security System with which we immediately correct the weaknesses of the system, immediately implement the reforms we have promised, orient the National Social Security System to the future ».

The Minister of Health set the strategic priorities which, as he listed, are, “reducing the frequency of serious chronic diseases. The construction of a society friendly to the elderly (mainly in the matter of healthy living). The reduction of private expenditure of households on health. The implementation of the reforms in the NHS, the EOPPY and the EOF and a number of other organizations” as well as the national health policies with the National prevention plan. The strategic treatment of the 6 main chronic diseases (cancer, cardiovascular diseases – including diabetes and vascular – dementia, mental diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal diseases). With the development of the NHS staff, the improvement of working conditions and a fair remuneration system, (productivity bonus to all staff that will come from the reduction of waste and the increase of productivity). By reducing waiting times (treatment – emergency room – surgery lists) provision of personalized, integrated, integrated, high quality and safe services, based on documented medical knowledge. creation of reference centers for the most common and serious chronic diseases. Full exploitation of technology for the benefit of patients, preparation of the health map of the country.

Mr. Chrysochoidis referred to the recruitments at the National Health Service, saying that “after the publication of the results by ASEP, 4386 nurses will be gradually recruited in 2023 to meet the needs of the country’s hospitals and nursing homes. 1,710 positions are also advertised for nursing and other staff, of which 225 rescuers of the EKAV. Also, 729 doctors of various specialties are gradually being recruited, while 206 positions that were declared barren were re-advertised”. The minister pointed out that “the provision for the recruitment of doctors was amended, so that they are done within a short period of time, a maximum of 3 months. The new planning for 2024 foresees 6,500 health recruitments for 2024. More specifically, we are proceeding with the announcement of 1,450 positions of doctors of various specialties of the National Health Service, 3,050 positions of nurses, 800 positions of EMS rescuers and 950 other staff for the country’s hospitals, as well as staff for critical supervised organizations.

Mr. Chrysochoidis stated that “for the first time, a practical policy against brain drain is the assignment of 270 university positions to the country’s medical schools, which will staff the academic institutions, but also the country’s university hospitals”. We believe, said the minister, that “these young scientists will take the system forward”.

Regarding drug shortages, the minister said that “we are dealing with persistence, consistency and continuous monitoring of the phenomenon that concerns all of Europe due to the lack of raw materials after the pandemic. We are in a good situation today, well above the European average, while we proceeded after legislative regulation to create a mechanism for monitoring and informing citizens about the adequacy of critical medicines in the country. This mechanism will arrive very soon through a digital application on the citizen’s mobile for updating. And we are launching the shipment of medicines from the EOPPY pharmacies, again after a relevant regulation, to the homes of the patients, to avoid the suffering of tens of thousands of our suffering fellow citizens”.

Referring to the 19 stroke units distributed in the same number of hospitals in the country, the minister said that “two of them already start their 24-hour operation from next Monday”. Soon “the legislative initiative on dementia and Alzheimer’s will be tabled, which concerns about 400,000 of our fellow citizens. In the immediate future, a Draft Law will be introduced to the Parliament with the aim of effectively completing the Psychiatric Reform, 30 years after its initiation. Where, for the first time, a National Network of Mental Health Services (NNS) is being established, which is structured into Regional Networks of Mental Health Services, which operate in the Regional Health Administrations. Now, mental health services will be managed by the deputy commander responsible for mental health issues of each Health Region. The evolution of Psychiatric Hospitals will be completed and their inclusion in the Community Networks that are being created, while the establishment of a National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions and the informational organization of Mental Health services will be included in the same bill.

On the Health Budget for 2024

Mr. Chrysochoidis stated that “the 2024 Budget for Health is increased by 897 million euros”. In particular, he said that “for hospitals, primary health care and EKAPY, which has assumed a key role in the supply of medicines, this increase is greater by 486 million euros, i.e. 13.3%. The health sector projects that are included in the Recovery Fund amounting to 1.9 billion euros with an implementation schedule of 12/31/2025 are contracted day by day and concern, from modernization and renovation of hospitals, to significant digital investments that will contribute to the improvement of services to patients”. This is, the minister said, “the highest percentage of expenditure that has been foreseen in recent years for health and it exactly reflects the political and social priorities of the government”.

Answers to the opposition

The Minister of Health, responding to questions and comments from the parliamentary representatives of the opposition parties, described as “costless” and arbitrary the claims that the government promotes the strengthening of private health care in relation to public health care, saying that “none of the evidence proves such a thing . Today there are 30,000 more people serving in the National Social Security Service than there were in 2019. And none of the auxiliaries have been fired and will not be fired.” The minister acknowledged that there are some delays in ASEP competitions, but added that this year we have 4,000 more nurses who are already being recruited. He noted that ESY leaves 500 per year and of course there are retirements, but the number of recruitments is very high. He called on the opposition parties to leave the proclamations and empty words and asked them not to talk about the National Social Security System. The NHS said “it is much better than many other countries and quite a bit more accessible”. Mr. Chrysochoidis emphasized that “historically, the NSS has not been given as much money (2 billion euros) as it was given in the last three years”.

Finally, the minister “pointed out that 1 million healthcare professionals are currently absent throughout Europe – the shortages are not just our problem”.