Adonis Georgiadis Leads: AI-Powered Revolution at 1566 Transforms Greece’s Public Healthcare System

1566 Digital Assistant: A New Era in Healthcare

Greece is entering a new digital era in public healthcare, led by Adonis Georgiadis, with the launch of an innovative AI-powered digital assistant linked to the 1566 helpline. This revolutionary initiative aims to provide guidance to citizens and alleviate pressure on hospitals.

The system will provide initial instructions, service information, and basic self-care advice, particularly for non-urgent cases, allowing healthcare personnel to focus on more serious patient needs.

Greece–USA Collaboration: Innovation for Citizens

The presence of U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle at the press conference marked the historic collaboration with Sword Health, a company with international expertise in healthcare technology. Greece, under the Ministry of Health’s guidance, becomes one of the first European countries to integrate AI tools in public healthcare, offering efficient and safe access to high-quality services.

Sword Health CEO Virgilio Bento emphasized AI’s role in relieving hospital congestion and improving patient quality of life, noting that the system complements but does not replace doctors.

Upgrading Critical Services: The “Smart” Entry into the NHS

The collaboration initially focuses on the 1566 line, the first point of contact for millions of citizens seeking guidance. By integrating AI into triage and coordination, citizens will receive automated recommendations while the system refers them to a doctor or hospital only when necessary.

Minister Georgiadis stated:“AI will never replace doctors. Our goal is to optimize patient management, reduce emergency room pressure, and allow physicians to focus on truly critical cases.”

Safety, Quality, and International Standards

The AI implementation will be monitored and evaluated by independent authorities, the WHO office in Greece, and medical associations, ensuring security, quality, and data protection. This initiative is part of the Greece 2.0 National Recovery and Resilience Plan, funded by the EU through NextGeneration EU.

Deputy Minister of Health Eirini Agapidaki and Deputy Ministers Marios Themistokleous and Dimitris Vartzopouloshighlighted the strategic importance of this initiative for accessible and resilient healthcare services.

Leadership Statements: Vision and Boldness

Minister Georgiadis said:“Greece will not be left behind in AI healthcare implementation. We aim to use new technologies to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.”

U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle hailed the collaboration as a bold, historic milestone, while Sword Health CEO Virgilio Bento stressed AI’s role in addressing staffing shortages and raising care quality.

The Future of Public Healthcare

The digital assistant is expected to launch by Easter 2026, reducing average call handling time by 6 minutes and improving overall system efficiency. With this initiative, Adonis Georgiadis’ government lays the foundation for a digital, citizen-centered healthcare system, where citizens are served efficiently, and doctors can focus on truly urgent cases.

Source: pagenews.gr