Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the new hospital under construction in Komotini in the afternoon and was informed about the progress of the works.

The new general hospital in Komotini will have a capacity of 165 beds and will replace the “Sismanoglio”, one of the oldest operating hospitals in the country. Its facilities are expected to be approximately twice as large and will have only single and double rooms. Five years after its opening, the staff will be increased by more than 200 employees compared to the existing one.

During his visit to the construction site, the prime minister noted: “The issue is not only the building, but also a completely new concept of how the hospital operates. I am not only referring to its digital dimension – I imagine that paper will not exist in this hospital – but to a completely different perception of the relationships of the medical staff with the patients.

This hospital will be a revolution for the National Health System, just like the Pediatric Hospital in Thessaloniki and the General Hospital in Sparta. And we are deeply indebted and grateful to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for yet another very important donation it makes to the Greek State.

And of course, our job now and the job of the Ministry is to make sure that the hospital is fully staffed from the first day of operation.

I think that the fact that this hospital is being built in an area where there are particular national sensitivities is of particular value.

In fact, speaking yesterday with President Erdoğan, when the issue of the Muslim minority and the issues of equality, equal state were brought up to me, after I made it clear that these are issues that concern the Greek legal order, I could not help but remind the fact that this hospital is being built here in Komotini to serve the needs of both the Christian and the Muslim population. So hopefully you will stick to the schedules.”

The new hospital in Komotini, as well as the pediatric hospital in Thessaloniki and the general hospital in Sparta, which are also under construction, with a total budget of almost 450 million euros, are being built with a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, as part of its International Health Initiative.

The construction project of the new Komotini hospital is implemented by the AVAX Group and the CEO of the Group, Konstantinos Mitzalis, gave the prime minister a tour.

The specifications to which the new general hospital is being built aim to provide a high level of care and innovative, specialized medical services. The complex will be fully digital and environmentally friendly, with extensive green spaces and the use of renewable energy sources, incorporating green sustainability principles that will make it one of the most energy efficient hospitals in its class.

A very important moment for Greek Justice

Afterwards, the prime minister visited the Police School of Komotini, where the training of the first Judicial Police corps recently began.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accompanied by the Minister of Justice Giorgos Floridis and Commander Brigadier Kostas Vlachos, spoke with trainees who will staff the Judicial Police, a new institution that is already operating successfully in European countries and will undertake, among other things, the execution of court decisions , security at court sessions, guarding courthouses and supporting judicial and prosecutorial officers during investigations, freeing up police officers who currently shoulder these duties.

In the context of his presence at the school, the Prime Minister said: “Mr. Minister of Justice, dear colleagues in the National Parliament, dear officers of the Hellenic Judicial Police, it is with great pleasure that I am here today, at the premises of the Komotini Police School, to participate in a very important moment for Greek Justice.

The Minister of Justice was right when he referred to the painful history of the institution of the Judicial Police. Indeed, it is worth asking why sometimes it takes so many years, so many decades, in this case 186 years to be precise, in order to implement important reforms which are absolutely critical for the proper functioning of critical pillars of the state.

The Judicial Police was a constant request of both the Greek Justice and the Greek Police.

For the first time we are absolutely sure that the country will finally have a Judicial Police. You, the women and men who are now being trained, will be its first cadres, currently participating in theoretical training. Practical training will follow and immediately after that you will be placed in your organizational positions.

I believe that this important intersection will essentially contribute to the improvement of the administration of Justice, the correct execution of court decisions, and the protection of court offices.

I am sure that you are receiving the best possible training and when you are finally placed in your positions, you will carry out your duties with integrity and professionalism.

So I want again from the bottom of my heart to wish you a good start. I am very happy to note that this important change, which, as you said, Mr. Minister of Justice, we have been talking about for so many years, has finally come to be implemented in practice. Good strength and a good start.”

Kyriakos Mitsotakis also visited the center of Komotini and talked with citizens and shopkeepers, while attending cultural events, in the context of the celebration of 104 years since the liberation of Thrace.

The first stop of the Prime Minister’s visit to Thrace was Alexandroupolis, where he met with students of the 5th Primary School of Munich “Socrates”, who participate in the Ministry of Education’s fire-affected areas adoption program. The students of the school adopted the area of ​​ancient Mesimvria, which was affected by the fire in Evros and spoke to Kyriakos Mitsotakis about the trees they planted, their school and the actions in which they participate.

“It’s very important to help nature, which largely regenerates itself, but when we can help it too and plant not just trees but the right trees to help the ecosystem recover sooner, that makes a lot of difference great importance, so thank you very much”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized.