The Irene Agapidaki was present at specialized activities of World Health Organization, focusing on the strengthening of health services in the country.
A special seminar of the World Health Organization, organized on Wednesday (6/5) in Athens by the WHO Office in Greece, with the theme “Workshops on the integration of Mental Health into Primary Health Care”, was attended by the Deputy Minister of Health, Irini Agapidaki, as part of the project implemented by the Ministry of Health for the upgrading of Primary Health Care through the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RDF).
“Strengthening the capacities of Primary Care professionals Health is at the core of a strong health system and is a key priority of the work we are implementing in collaboration with the World Health Organization and Health Regions. Our aim is to share knowledge and upgrade the skills of human resources,” Ms Agapidaki said. The Deputy Minister of Health stressed that the project focuses on prevention and early treatment of mental health problems, which affect both young and older citizens.
In addition, it highlighted that integration of mental health in primary health care is based on three key pillars: (a) The training of health and mental health professionals to enable them to identify problems early and provide free psychotherapy and counselling services. b) To better coordination between primary health care and mental health services to avoid patients being lost within the health care system. (c) The development of standardised and operational procedures to ensure the effective implementation of the two previous pillars. Referring to mental health, she noted that the Ministry of Health and the Government place particular emphasis on prevention and care, with a focus on children, adolescents and adults, through partnerships with national and international bodies.
As Ms Agapidaki stressed, universal health coverage requires equal access for all citizens to quality health services, with an emphasis on prevention and mental health. In this context, he stressed the need to transform Primary Health Care towards a more active, community-based model of intervention, noting that “it is imperative to get out of the Health Centres and get closer to citizens, where they live and where they are in real need”.
“It is very important that we can go to people, both for clinical assessment and medication, as well as for psychotherapy and social support. There are many people who need help but don’t get to services, often because of stigma,” the Deputy Minister of Health said, adding that “mental health services are free and are systematically strengthened to make them accessible to all. At the same time, we are investing in training professionals to provide up-to-date, evidence-based services across the country.”
Mobile Health Teams are a key tool in Primary Health Care
In addition, as he underlined, Mobile Health Teams (MHTGs) are a key tool of Primary Health Care, as they allow the provision of services even to the most remote populations. “Our goal is a Primary Health Care that operates in networks of local services, with an active presence in the community, so that no one is left without access to care,” she noted, referring also to the role of Health Districts in the planning and integration of mental health services.
Finally, he stressed that collaboration with the World Health Organization and related workshops help to highlight good practices and realistic solutions for integrating mental health into primary health care, making use of available tools and guidelines.
It is worth noting that the event took place in the framework of the project “Strengthening the Primary Health Care System in Greece through the improvement of accessibility, quality and sustainability”, which is implemented in collaboration with the World Health Organization and funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund, aiming to upgrade health services and strengthen community care. The special seminars were attended by representatives from the 1st, 2nd and 6th Health Regions of the country, confirming their key role in the design and implementation of health policies that respond to the needs of local communities.
