Greek Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki has presented the final outcome of nationwide healthcare projects completed under the European Recovery Fund following the official conclusion of the program.
Writing in a social media post to mark the end of the funding scheme, Agapidaki detailed major interventions carried out in preventative medicine, primary healthcare, childhood obesity, family mental health, and the digital transformation of Greece's National Health System.
Agapidaki stated that officials had demonstrated in practice that they fulfill their commitments and pledged that the health ministry would continue on the same path, noting that a dedicated team had managed the projects since 2022.
Free screening and preventative care
Addressing preventative medicine, Agapidaki noted that Greece previously lacked an organized prevention system, leaving citizens reliant on personal financial resources for essential care.
In response, the government legislated Prolamvano, the country's first national prevention framework, offering free diagnostic screening examinations to both insured and uninsured citizens.
More than 6,860,000 citizens participated in free preventative examinations covering breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
The United Nations and the World Health Organization honored Greece with an official award for the Prolamvano program and its accompanying actions targeting childhood health.
Primary healthcare and clinic renovations
Turning to primary healthcare, Agapidaki stated that most local health centers across Greece had received no structural maintenance since their establishment in the 1980s.
She highlighted degraded infrastructure, obsolete medical equipment, and care models that failed to address modern health challenges.
To upgrade community health services, the ministry renovated 156 health centers nationwide and established 312 dedicated chronic condition units.
Modern medical equipment was distributed to all local health centers across the country, while 7,000 primary healthcare professionals completed training in modern prevention and health promotion models.
The ministry also collaborated with the World Health Organization to re-organize primary healthcare operations by establishing standardized, digitalized care procedures.
Telemedicine and mobile health teams
To address disparities in healthcare access for residents living in regional and remote areas, the ministry completed the rollout of the National Telemedicine Network.
The network comprises 305 doctor-patient stations, 35 doctor-advisor stations, and 3,000 home care systems distributed nationwide.
The government also established Mobile Health Teams, known as KOMY, as the first integrated remote service delivering medical personnel directly to citizens' homes.
The mobile initiative fields 180 medical teams comprising more than 1,000 staff members, managing over 800 intervention points each month across the country.
More than 15,000 citizens received in-home medical examinations, contributing to more than 70,000 total examinations conducted by the mobile teams over the past year.
National action against childhood obesity
Agapidaki pointed out that Greece had ranked among the highest countries in Europe for childhood obesity for decades, causing children to develop conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia early in life, with higher rates observed in lower-income households.
She stated that Greece established its first comprehensive, multi-level action against childhood obesity, transforming the country from a laggard into an international example.
As part of the strategy, schools distributed 130,000 free healthy meals, while over 20 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables were provided to families experiencing financial hardship.
More than 100,000 children participated in free sports programs, and more than 1,900 overweight or obese children received free personalized nutritional support, leading to eight out of ten achieving a normal weight and improved health.
A total of 1,100 pediatricians and healthcare professionals received training in the early detection and management of childhood obesity.
Furthermore, 99,328 students across 1,625 schools took part in an experiential educational program named The Journey of Food, which has now been officially legislated for use in all schools nationwide, alongside updated national guidelines on diet and exercise and revised dietary standards for school canteens.
Child health, family support and mental health
Agapidaki highlighted a prior total absence of primary prevention regarding family physical and mental health, noting that girls' health promotion and youth mental health had remained sidelined.
The ministry organized the National Action for Child and Family Health Promotion around three core pillars: promoting girls' health, strengthening positive parenting skills, and offering free mental health services for adolescents and young adults facing severe psychological issues.
Under the girls' health pillar, 237,133 male and female students across 2,521 schools took part in educational sessions on health promotion and period hygiene, while more than 15 million period products were distributed free of charge to all schoolgirls from fifth grade of primary school to third grade of lower secondary school.
Greece also implemented the international practice known as Positive Parenting Programme, or Triple P, across all seven Regional Health Authorities, where 231 trained healthcare professionals assisted 6,513 families through free counseling sessions and seminars.
The ministry established Greece's first Model Community Center for the prevention and treatment of youth self-harm, providing free psychotherapy of all types to more than 500 families, teenagers, and young adults.
Additionally, over 3,000 male and female students attended mental empowerment workshops involving music, supported by mental health specialists and creative artists.
Digital transformation and electronic health records
Detailing digital reforms within the National Health System, Agapidaki noted that Greek citizens had spent years carrying bags of paper test results between medical clinics, making care tracking difficult for patients and coordination complex for doctors.
The ministry introduced the National Electronic Health Record, which consolidates medical examinations, referrals, lab findings, and diagnostic imaging scans into a single digital platform.
Agapidaki emphasized that the centralized platform reduces administrative burdens for doctors and patients, improves care quality, and allows more time for clinical consultations.
Expressing her gratitude to the team that worked on the projects since 2022, Agapidaki concluded that the Recovery Fund had produced a major social impact by delivering healthcare into every home, proving that the government delivers on its commitments.
