Health Minister Adonis Georgiades visited the Athens General Hospital “Pammakaristos” today, Monday 6 April 2026, to attend the inauguration of the new Emergency Department (ED). The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistocleous, the Secretary General of Health Services Lillian Venetia Vildiridis, the Governor of the 1st Regional Health Authority Olga Balaura, the Hospital’s Governor Thrasyvosvos Ladopoulos, MP Zoe Rapti and the President of the Athens Medical Association George Patoulis.
The project, worth 2,575,150 euros, is a comprehensive intervention that essentially transforms the operation of the T.E.P. and the Regular Outpatient Clinics. The upgrade includes, among other things, the increase of examination beds from five (5) to seven (7), their full equipment support (medical gases, air conditioning, electrical supplies), as well as the creation of an autonomous and controlled operating area for the T.E.P.
“Today we are inaugurating a project that gives the hospital the opportunity to play a much greater role in the management of cases during on-call hours. This is not just a facelift. You could say we have been reduced to a new roof, modern air conditioning and better lighting. However, that is not all. We are delivering to this hospital – which is not among the largest in the National Health System – a fully equipped Emergency Department, with a septic operating room, a recovery room and a triage system so that it can handle cases with greater competence, speed and safety, while reducing patient suffering. This project is part of a broader plan to reduce the inconvenience of on-call patients.
At the same time, it is being implemented in a popular neighborhood in a particularly critical location for the region. I am particularly proud, as during my term of office this project is being completed and, in fact, delivered three months ahead of schedule, proving that Greece can, when it chooses to do so, be an example of efficiency and consistency at European level. The fact that we are investing in projects of this level and in smaller hospitals highlights our strategic choice to restructure the health system. Our aim is to decongest the large hospitals and distribute the pressure more evenly, gradually creating a modern and efficient National Health System.”
Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistocleous said:
“The new, fully upgraded Emergency Department of the General Hospital of Divine Welfare “The Pammakaristos” is handed over to our fellow citizens today. This is another essential intervention that fundamentally transforms the operation of the ED and outpatient departments, enhancing the hospital’s ability to respond more quickly, safely and efficiently to patient needs. Emergency Departments are the first and most critical line of the National Health System. And with this upgrade, we are demonstrating that we are actively strengthening public health, improving conditions for patients and for the medical, nursing and administrative staff who fight the battle on the front line every day. We are creating a more functional and more modern environment, which contributes to better case management and a better quality of service for citizens. This project is another substantial investment in the public health system, implemented with Recovery Fund resources.
It demonstrates that when available European resources are used in a planned, rapid and efficient manner, they can be translated into tangible results with a real social impact. We are consistently pursuing our plan for a more modern, more functional and more reliable NHS, with interventions that substantially improve the daily lives of citizens and health professionals in every public facility in the country.”
