Health Minister, Adonis Georgiadis, clarified the government’s plan to offer free afternoon surgeries in Greece for those citizens who cannot afford them during a press conference at the relevant ministry today. These measures were part of a broader package announced by the prime minister at the 88th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).
The minister emphasized that they have the go-ahead of the technical teams and are now awaiting the approval of the European Commission for the afternoon surgeries. However, he said that he was not yet able to give a precise timeframe, further stressing that this initiative will boost the income of surgical teams and assist those in need.
Georgiadis acknowledged delays in the implementation of the 37,000 free afternoon surgeries in Greece, attributing them to the European elections, which unexpectedly impacted such matters.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Irini Agapidaki announced that the bill for the ‘Personal Doctor System’ and the strengthening of Primary Health Care will be open for public consultation by early next week, at the latest.
The bill includes financial incentives for young doctors to specialize in general medicine or pathology with a grant of 30,000 euros, a further addition of 2,500 physicians to the personal doctor system, and the establishment of seven new university centers that will manage telemedicine services for the islands.
What is more, a new initiative targeted at pediatric care, providing free coverage for over 500,000 children, was also announced.
Regarding the country’s preventive screening program, it was revealed that a new program for colorectal cancer prevention would begin in the coming days.
Furthermore, Agapidaki emphasized the government’s determination to address the National Health System’s long-standing systemic inefficiencies and lack of organization.
On his part, Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous focused on the changes in the funding of the NHS, stating that since 2019 staff has increased by 10% across all sectors.
He also stated that as of January, doctors’ on-call shifts will be taxed at a flat rate of 22%, translating to an average monthly salary increase of 130 euros.
He further mentioned an additional incentive of up to 7,200 euros annually for doctors who work in remote areas.
He clarified that from 2025 hospitals will be funded based on their productivity such as the number of surgeries they perform and hospitalizations they provide.
