The Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, and the Deputy Minister Marios Themistokleous, was guided by the administrator of the interconnected hospitals “Sismanogleio - Amalia Fleming” and Penteli Children’s, Zoi Rakopoulou, through the upgraded operating rooms and clinics, where he had the opportunity to speak with the medical and nursing staff, with hospitalized children and their parents.
“You completed an extremely demanding renovation, which essentially transformed a worn hospital, one that had not seen significant interventions for many decades, into a new, ultra-modern pediatric hospital,” the Prime Minister noted during his speech at the inauguration ceremony.
As part of the project, which was implemented with a donation of 4.5 million euros from the charitable foundation Kaizen Foundation, the surrounding area of the hospital was also redeveloped, including a playground, new equipment was acquired for the hospital accommodation - care of children and infants, with provision for a toilet in every clinic ward room, while at the same time substantial fire safety interventions were made, such as the installation of fire-resistant doors in the clinics.
Referring to the upgrade works being carried out in structures at all levels of the public health system, Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed: “More than 150 Health Centers were funded and fully upgraded by the Recovery Fund, more than 80 hospitals where very significant interventions were made, primarily in the Emergency Departments.”
“In other words, we implemented our pre-election commitment that we would carry out the largest building upgrade and intervention in the infrastructure of the National Health System since its establishment,” the Prime Minister continued, while highlighting the possibilities that now exist for better coverage of the needs of the western areas of the capital as well. “I particularly note what Adonis said, the need to create a pediatric structure in Western Athens as well. It is a request of many decades, which we are now in a position to satisfy,” he said characteristically.
Regarding the care for strengthening the staffing of the NHS, Kyriakos Mitsotakis underlined: “We made courageous and bold interventions with the minister. We gave NHS doctors the possibility, in a controlled and taxed manner, to provide medical work outside the National Health System, after they have always fulfilled their obligations to the National Health System, just as we also brought into the National Health System doctors who provide their services, giving them the right incentives.
And the fact that today we can issue calls and have this kind of response means that young doctors are willing to choose the National Health System to build their careers there.”
The Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, pointed out: “We are not talking about a simple renovation, we are talking about a new hospital, with new wards, access for people with disabilities, a new pharmacy, new laboratories, a new surrounding area. To this major project of the Kaizen Foundation is added the inclusion of the hospital in an energy upgrade program through the NSRF, which starts immediately. In addition, with funds from the RRF, a new MRI scanner will be installed in the hospital for the needs of children.
In this way we are building a truly new hospital. At the same time, a few days ago the results of the call for permanent NHS physician positions were announced. A total of six positions were announced at the Penteli Children’s Hospital and all were filled, with a success rate of 100%. And this is the message I want to remain from here today. It is not only the renovation of the building, it is at the same time also the recruitment of medical and nursing staff.”
The administrator of the interconnected hospitals “Sismanogleio - Amalia Fleming” and Penteli Children’s, Zoi Rakopoulou, noted: “Today marks a tangible contribution of upgrading the protection and care of children’s health for the future of the country. Our hospital, with a decades-long history of offering to the child and the family, is today entering a new development course.
Today is a historic milestone. It marks the transition to a new era for public pediatric care. And of course when the state, society and private initiative cooperate, with a common vision, they can create works that are substantial and enduring for the common imprint.”
The president of the Kaizen Foundation, Panos Konstantopoulos, stated on his part: “There are moments that vindicate the effort of many people. Today is one of them. It constitutes the largest donation to date. It is no coincidence that it was made in Greece, which was and remains our starting point. This is the largest renovation of the hospital in more than 80 years.”