The Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, urged the women beneficiaries of the free preventive examinations to take advantage of the “Fofi Gennimata” program, on the occasion of World Breast Cancer Day.
“Our government, and I am very proud of it, is carrying out the largest preventive medicine program that has ever been carried out in the Greek state, for the detection of breast cancer in women. It is the program named after the late Fofi Gennimata. This program carries out a free preventive electronic tomography examination for breast cancer, that is, a mammogram, and it has already saved the lives of thousands of women, who used this free examination and learned that unfortunately they had cancer at an early stage and thus faced the problem immediately this”, said Mr. Georgiadis and added: “So, I am calling all the beneficiaries of the program, who have received the relevant message from IDIKA on their mobile phones, which informs them of the procedure by which they can make use of the free preventive examinations of the “Fofi Gennimata” program, to do so because prevention in this case literally saves lives. And this was done by the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis”.
Attica Hospital
The KKE member of parliament today called on the Minister of Health to answer about the conditions at the Attica Hospital. “The situation has reached an impasse at the Attica Hospital. Ranches have become a regime, 120 ranches in each ward. At the same time, any development of clinics and beds is based on the outdated organizational chart, in relation to the nursing staff”, noted Mrs. Daga and complained that a nurse and a nursing assistant are forced to be responsible for 35 beds plus the approximately ten ranches after from each duty station. This tragic understaffing – two hundred and thirty-five are the gaps in nursing staff – leads to the fact that the movement of nursing staff from clinic to clinic, from the one Intensive Care Unit to MATH, has become a regularity, according to the KKE MP, who asked from the Minister of Health to inform the Parliament “what measures he will take to hire all the necessary permanent staff, nursing, to cover the needs that are in a situation below the safety limits”.
“We have made announcements in 2021 and 2022 and 2023 and 2024 and we will also do so in 2025 for the recruitment of nursing staff. We have until the end of the year to catch up with over 3,500 nurses. Attikon Hospital, if everything goes according to plan, will get 100 nurses by the end of the year and with them it will have a much better flow in its operation, without having definitively solved the problem of lack of staff”, replied the Minister of Health. At the same time, however, Mr. Georgiadis commented: “The process of hiring nurses through ASEP is a process which was very slow. The government identified the problem and intervened legislatively to speed up this process and make recruitments. What did the KKE vote for in these interventions? “No”. So, your interest, dear colleague, is purely hypocritical. If you were interested in hiring, you would be a pusher for faster hiring, not an opponent of faster hiring. So, in the room, the only ones who are really interested in hiring are really us.”
The minister also answered about the ranches at the Attica Hospital
“Atticon Hospital has a ranch. For what reason? Because too many people choose to go to this hospital instead of the one next door. If they go to a neighboring one, they won’t find a ranch on duty. If they go to Atticon they will have a ranch. However, they believe that Atticon is better and want to go there. I’m sorry, but they choose it. 50% of Attikon admissions are from ambulatory patients.
They are not from EKAV, i.e. they are not urgent. They go there on their own and it’s 50%. So, you understand that at some point some hospitals also pay the price of their success”, stressed Mr. Georgiadis and added: “There is no system (including in large hospitals abroad) without a ranch in the emergency room, because if many go at the same time people the laws of physics apply no matter how rich a state is. That simple. Despite this, the government – indeed – with the new TEP and with all the planning it does in the emergency department, will try to the extent possible to deal with this issue as well”.
#Fofi #Gennimata #program #saved #lives #thousands #women
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Mr. Georgiadis. Thank you for joining us today on World Breast Cancer Day. You recently emphasized the importance of the “Fofi Gennimata” program. Can you tell us more about what this program entails and why it’s crucial for women in Greece?
**Adonis Georgiadis (Minister of Health):** Good afternoon! I’m glad to be here and to discuss this important issue. The “Fofi Gennimata” program is the largest preventive medicine initiative that our government has implemented. It offers free preventive examinations—specifically, electronic tomography examinations or mammograms—to detect breast cancer early. This program has already helped save thousands of lives by allowing women to identify the disease at its earliest stages, which greatly enhances their chances of successful treatment.
**Interviewer:** That sounds vital. You mentioned that women involved in the program should have received messages from IDIKA. What steps should they take to access these free examinations?
**Adonis Georgiadis:** Yes, exactly. If women have received an SMS from IDIKA regarding the program, they should follow the instructions provided. It’s a straightforward process, and I urge all eligible beneficiaries to take advantage of this opportunity. Remember, early detection can truly save lives.
**Interviewer:** Shifting gears a bit, there are serious concerns being raised about conditions at the Attica Hospital. Can you address the staffing shortages and the criticisms being voiced by members of Parliament, especially regarding the nurse-to-patient ratio?
**Adonis Georgiadis:** I understand the concerns, and they are valid. Staffing issues have been a long-standing challenge in our healthcare system. However, I want to assure you that we are actively working to rectify this situation. We’ve made commitments to recruit over 3,500 nurses, and by the end of this year, we anticipate bringing in approximately 100 new nurses to Attica Hospital. This is certainly not a complete solution, but it will improve conditions significantly.
**Interviewer:** What measures do you plan to implement to ensure these staffing shortages do not continue in the future?
**Adonis Georgiadis:** We are streamlining recruitment processes and increasing our budget allocations for nursing staff. Continuous training and improved working conditions are also part of our strategy to retain current staff and attract new ones. We know that providing quality care is tied directly to having enough qualified professionals on duty.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Georgiadis. It’s clear that both breast cancer awareness and the capacity of our healthcare facilities are critical issues. We appreciate your time.
**Adonis Georgiadis:** Thank you for having me. It’s our duty to ensure that both preventative health measures and hospital conditions improve for all citizens.
**Adonis Georgiadis:** Absolutely. The situation at the Attica Hospital has been challenging, and I acknowledge the concerns raised. We are fully aware of the need for adequate staffing. Our government has recognized the critical shortages and has committed to recruiting over 3,500 nurses by the end of this year. Specifically, Attica Hospital is set to receive 100 new nurses, which will improve operations significantly. However, we have to navigate this within the existing bureaucratic framework, which can be slow. Ultimately, we are focused on expediting this process to ensure we can meet the healthcare demands of our citizens.
**Interviewer:** The increase in patient demand seems to be a significant factor. Can you explain why patients are flocking to Attica Hospital in high numbers, and how you’re addressing the issue of crowding and long wait times in emergency care?
**Adonis Georgiadis:** That’s a great question. Attica Hospital has established a reputation for quality care, leading many patients to choose it over neighboring facilities, even for non-urgent issues. This influx results in longer wait times and overcrowding in the emergency department. It’s important to note that 50% of the admissions we see are from ambulatory patients, which adds to the challenges. We’re working on improving our emergency services and optimizing patient flows. While every hospital has peak times, our new strategies aim to better manage these demands as we continue to enhance our infrastructure.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Georgiadis. It’s clear that both preventative measures and responsive healthcare systems are critical to safeguarding public health in Greece. We appreciate you taking the time to discuss these important issues today.
**Adonis Georgiadis:** Thank you for having me. I urge everyone to prioritize their health, and to take advantage of the programs we have in place. Prevention saves lives, and we’re here to support the health of all Greeks.
