Greek healthcare is entering a new era with the upgrading of KAT Hospital, while psychiatric facilities are being expanded and measures to reduce claw back in diagnostic centers are underway. Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health, shares exclusive details on initiatives that will reshape patient care and the daily lives of healthcare professionals.
Psychiatric Hospitals: Demand Outpaces Capacity
“First of all, we’ve expanded. Recovery Fund investments added new beds and renovated facilities, but it’s still not enough,” Georgiadis admitted.
Psychiatric disorders in Attica have surged, with social media use and pandemic lockdowns cited as contributing factors. Despite renovations and new beds, the demand for mental health services remains extremely high.
KAT Hospital: Leading Trauma Center in the Balkans
“KAT is the leading trauma hospital in the Balkans. Its emergency surgeries never stop, and it’s the busiest in Greece,” said Georgiadis.
Thanks to the Kanelopoulos Foundation, a new surgical building will be constructed to:
- Maintain uninterrupted operations of existing surgical units.
- Expand hospital wards after the new building is completed.
- Deliver a modern, fully renovated healthcare facility.
“In two years, we will see the new KAT. This is a life-saving project of enormous scale,” the Minister emphasized.
KAT Statistics:
- Surgical operations: #1 in Greece
- Bed occupancy during peak: ~90%
- Funding: Tens of millions of euros from private donations and Recovery Fund
Claw Back Reduction: From 44% to 28%, Target Below 20%
“Claw back was 44% in early January 2024. Today it’s 28%, and our goal is under 20%,” Georgiadis stated.
Reducing claw back will especially benefit islands and remote areas, where limited diagnostic centers force residents to pay exorbitant fees.
Staffing Boost: 4,000 New Doctors and Nurses
The Minister announced the recruitment of 4,000 doctors and nurses through ASEP, aiming to strengthen healthcare units across Greece, particularly in islands and remote regions.
“Staffing is crucial to meet the healthcare needs of citizens,” Georgiadis noted.
Workforce Training Programs: Only One Fully Implemented
Regarding labor programs, Georgiadis explained:
“Out of all the millions of euros allocated to GSEE programs, only one has been completed successfully and even won an award from the European Commission.”
The program, Creative Industry, enabled 25% of participants to secure jobs with higher salaries. Other programs remain in implementation or under judicial review.
The new KAT Hospital, expansion of psychiatric beds, claw back reduction, and increased staffing illustrate a clear strategic focus: improving healthcare and workforce quality in Greece with transparency and efficiency.
“In politics, what truly matters is doing good work. That’s what counts,” concluded Adonis Georgiadis
Source: pagenews.gr