Addressing the demographic problem in Greece, strengthening fertility, and providing substantial support to the family were at the center of the statements by experts from the fields of medicine, assisted reproduction, law, and social action. The speakers highlighted the challenges the country faces, underlining the need for interventions that combine access to health services, information, scientific research, and the creation of infrastructure to support young families.
Stefanos Chandakas, President and Founder of HOPEgenesis, Vice President of the Board of Directors of HYGEIA Hospital of the HHG Group, Associate Professor of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Reproductive Medicine Physician, referred to the need to increase births in Greece, placing particular emphasis on border and island regions, where a significant decrease in births is observed and residents' access to health services is limited. As he noted, a critical intervention is the support of pregnant women through telemedicine systems, in order to address geographical inequalities in the provision of care.
At the same time, he presented the expansion of HOPEgenesis' organizational program, which, according to his statement, has expanded from 12 areas in Greece to approximately 400 areas, providing significant support. He also made special reference to infrastructure projects that contribute to supporting the family, such as the creation of daycare centers on islands, sports facilities, distance learning classes, and scholarship programs. These actions are part of a broader approach that links the increase in births with the improvement of living conditions and the empowerment of local communities.
Konstantinos Pantos, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Assisted Reproduction Specialist, President of the GENESIS ATHENS Clinic and Secretary General of the Hellenic Society of Reproductive Medicine, focused on the changes that have occurred in society's perceptions regarding childbearing and fertility. He referred to the need to examine the issue of the age at which people decide to have a child, as well as the fertility rate, noting that social perceptions have changed significantly.
According to his statement, benefits alone are not sufficient to reverse the course of the demographic problem, as human reproduction is also governed by biological limitations. Mr. Pantos also underlined the importance of informing the public, proposing the inclusion of awareness and knowledge campaigns in the public dialogue, so that citizens have a more complete picture of fertility and the factors that affect family planning.
Referring to the need for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to fertility was Nikolaos D. Petroyiannis, MD, PhD, MSc, Gynecologist-Obstetrician, Reproduction Specialist, Director of the Medically Assisted Reproduction Unit of the N.N.A. and Secretary General of the Hellenic Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (E.M.G.E.). He presented the work of the Unit, emphasizing that an intensive interdisciplinary effort is being made for the operation of a comprehensive interdepartmental structure, with the aim of holistically addressing fertility issues.
As he stated, the main pillars of the Unit's operation are the quality and safety of the services provided, the simplification of procedures, the preparation of citizens for parenthood through special courses, the strengthening of research, innovation and scientific advancement, as well as the production of national and social work. At the same time, he noted the need to strengthen the scientific team with the presence of a geneticist, in order to more fully cover the needs of a modern assisted reproduction unit.
Ismini Kriari, Professor of Constitutional Law and President of the National Authority of Medically Assisted Reproduction (EAIYA), referred to Greece's position in the field of assisted reproduction, noting that the country is at a high level and attracts interested parties from many regions of the world. As she stated, in 2025, 1,700 children were born in Greece to foreign nationals, while a significant number of people from abroad choose the country for medically assisted reproduction services.
Ms. Kriari also raised issues concerning the need to use reproductive material from abroad, such as sperm and eggs, underlining the importance of investigating the reasons why increased demand for foreign sperm is recorded. At the same time, she emphasized the need to clarify the scientific and institutional limits of the suitability of reproductive material, as well as to provide systematic information and dissemination of knowledge around these issues.
In the context of her intervention, she highlighted the importance of Parliament's participation in shaping policies for assisted reproduction and the demographic issue, noting that these specific matters do not concern only the government of the day. As she argued, the demographic issue is a political and social matter that requires broader institutional treatment and party consensus, as is the case in other countries.
Finally, lawyer Ms. Sokardou, through her own testimony, referred to the difficulties her generation faced in relation to having a child. As she characteristically noted, this is a generation that has experienced discouraging experiences, which are linked to delayed childbearing. This personal dimension highlighted the importance of understanding the social and practical obstacles that affect people's decisions to start a family.
The speakers' statements highlighted the multiple dimensions of the demographic issue, from access to health services and assisted reproduction to information, scientific research, and social infrastructure.
Strengthening the family and addressing low birth rates require a combination of policies and actions, with the participation of the State, the scientific community, and society, as well as a broader dialogue on the conditions under which citizens choose to have children.