New initiatives, with a total public expenditure of 8,263,484 euros, for the further upgrading of the services of the National Health System, funded by the ESPA, are being launched through the cooperation of the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis and the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis.
Specifically, the following Actions are being included in the ESPA Programme “Human Resources and Social Cohesion 2021-2027”:
-“Systemic upgrading of the operation of the Emergency Departments and the scheduling of surgeries to improve the quality of the health services provided”, with a total public expenditure of 2,197,280 euros. The intervention in the Emergency Departments focuses on reducing waiting times, optimizing patients’ pathway within hospitals, and more effectively addressing emergency situations and periods of increased demand. In this context, the redesign of patient flow management procedures is envisaged, from entry and triage to the completion of their service, the use of modern digital tools for recording, monitoring, analyzing and forecasting workload, as well as strengthening coordination between the EDs and the other hospital units for the more efficient management of available beds and resources.
At the same time, the project places particular emphasis on improving the scheduling of surgeries, through the reorganization of the relevant procedures and the adoption of best management practices. The aim is to reduce delays and cancellations, optimize the use of operating rooms and human resources, as well as strengthen cooperation and communication among the health professionals involved. In this way, the operational risks associated with inadequate allocation of resources are limited and the overall efficiency of surgical services is improved.
-“Support mechanism for the financial and operational sustainability of Health Services”, with a total public expenditure of 6,066,204 euros. The development and pilot operation of an integrated administrative support mechanism is envisaged, which will include modern tools, procedures and methodologies to assist the administrations of health units.
More specifically, the aim is to support the administrations of health units in their work, ensure the financial stability of the system, with a reduction of waste and better allocation of resources, improve operational efficiency through the implementation of strategies that will enhance the productivity of health services, improve the quality of healthcare, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHS.
Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening interconnection, coordination and cooperation between the Ministry of Health, the Health Regions (YPE) and the Health Centers, which constitute the main pillar of Primary Health Care and the main first point of contact of citizens with the health system.