A palliative care is entering a new era in Greece, following the establishment of a legal framework in 2022 and the implementation of actions by the Ministry of Health.

The aim is to provide universal access and upgrade the quality of life of patients suffering from serious and chronic or life-threatening diseases, as announced during a press conference by the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiades and the Deputy Minister, Marios Themistokleoys.

The Health Minister noted that it is a matter of dignity, adding that today there are few structures, resulting in patients remaining in hospitals for a long time.

“Greece needs 500 palliative care beds and their development will gradually begin. The creation of palliative care units includes the development of four beds at the Pediatric Hospital of Thessaloniki “Stavros, Niarchos”, the completion of the construction of which is estimated in January 2027. Also, 40 beds will be developed at the Theagenio Oncology Hospital in Thessalonikis and the first Public Palliative Care Unit in Attica,” Georgiades said, adding that announcements are expected in the next period.

For his part, Mr. Themistokleous pointed out “that the National Action Plan includes eight axes and the roadmap involves beds within hospitals, creation of palliative care units and home services. The National Action Plan is the first attempt in the history of the country’s health system to have a national strategy for palliative care with a horizon of 2030.”

“The Action Plan aims to develop aintegrated system of support for people and their families from the time of diagnosis of a serious chronic, progressive and life-threatening disease through death and bereavement. The development of units is expected to make a substantial contribution to the dignified living of patients, ensuring that no one is deprived of the necessary support at the most difficult times of their lives. Palliative care is not only about end of life. It is about managing pain, symptoms, psychological burden and maintaining dignity throughout the course of the disease,” the Deputy Minister of State for Health stressed.

More specifically, the National Palliative Care Action Plan is the roadmap for identifying critical objectives and prioritising to improve care, integrating palliative care at all levels of the healthcare environment, training of professionals, raising awareness and empowering society, formulating policies and ensuring the sustainability of the palliative care system in the context of achieving universal health coverage.

The National Action Plan for Palliative Care 2025-2030 was developed by the National Commission for the Development of Palliative Care and is structured around eight axes and 27 actions that include a description, objectives, actions, stakeholders, implementation schedule and budget.

The eight strategic axes include:

– Palliative care education and research.

– Awareness and empowerment of individuals and communities.

– Resource development and management.

– Development and organization of palliative care services.

– Identification of data, specific and vulnerable population groups.

– Policies and institutional framework for palliative care.

– Digitisation, innovation, operating standards, tools and protocols.

– Ensuring sustainability and monitoring the development of palliative care.