The inauguration of the renovated operating rooms of the AHEPA Hospital’s 1st Ophthalmology Clinic took place in the presence of Health Minister Adonis Georgiades. The project, with a total budget of one million euros, financed by the Recovery Fund, was completed in 2025, while an additional 3.5 million euros were allocated for the technological equipment through NSRF.
The Health Minister, in his speech at the inauguration ceremony, noted that the clinic “has nothing to envy from any private hospital in the country” and that “there is no reason for a patient to prefer a private clinic over this one”.
He also stressed that AHEPA, in terms of equipment, building infrastructure, quality and adequacy of staff, is in no way inferior to private hospitals. At the same time, he referred to the strengthening of the hospital from 2019 to date, noting that its budget has more than doubled, while both medical and nursing staff have increased, with new recruitments underway.
Speaking specifically about the operation of AHEPA, he noted that the average waiting time in the Emergency Departments, using an electronic tracking system, is 3 hours, 16 minutes and 44 seconds, while for the operating theatres, waits have been reduced to less than five months.
He also stood by the overall picture of the National Health System, which he said includes 117.000 employees, 127 hospitals, 360 health centres and 1,500 regional clinics, stressing that about 25 million cases are treated annually.
Investments and projects
The governor of the 4th YPE Panagiotis Bogiatzidis said that the project of reconstruction of the operating rooms of the 1st Ophthalmology Clinic of AHEPA, worth one million euros, included a complete reconstruction of the electromechanical installations and renovation of the interiors.
He also noted that the renovation and expansion of the Emergency Department (ED) of AHEPA is underway, with a budget of 2.2 million euros, with a completion date of June 30. At the same time, he said that projects for the supply of diagnostic and scientific equipment, totalling 11 million euros, are being implemented.
Regarding the total investments in the 4th YPE, he said that in 12 hospitals under its jurisdiction projects with a budget of 37.5 million euros are being implemented through the Recovery Fund, while in 14 hospitals projects worth 55 million euros are being implemented through NSRF. The total amount of investment amounts to 92.5 million euros.
Finally, he said that at AHEPA, since 2023 to date, 39 medical staff positions have been filled and the recruitment of another 19 is underway, that there has been a significant increase in nursing and other staff and that it has been decided to recruit new auxiliary nursing staff.
Hospital administrator Panagiotis Panteliadis said that AHEPA’s budget has increased from €98.8 million in 2020 to €147.8 million in 2025, an increase of more than 50%. At the same time, he noted that medical staff increased from 514 to 592, nursing staff from 638 to 698 and other staff from 449 to 510. He also added that the hospital records 35,000 admissions, 40,000 hospitalizations, 51,000 cases in the ICU and 122,000 visits to regular outpatient clinics annually.
Digitization and artificial intelligence in the Ophthalmology Clinic
The director of the 1st Ophthalmology Clinic, Professor Fotis Topouzis, pointed out that within the next few months the Clinic will go fully digital, with the procurement of the appropriate infrastructure through NSRF, and that a digital medical record will be installed, which will include both clinical and paraclinical data (ultrasounds, angiograms, tomographies, etc.).etc), eliminating the use of paper. At the same time, he stressed that this development prepares the clinic for the future by incorporating artificial intelligence for personalised services and self-assessment.
Topouzis also noted that the number of patients served at the clinic has more than doubled. Specifically, he said that while a few years ago 12,000 patients were served annually, in 2025 the number exceeded 25,000. He also reported that 3,000 surgeries were performed in 2025, an 11.5% increase over 2024. Regarding the waiting time for surgery, he said it decreased from 38 days to 18, calling it a national record.
Health mobilization
At the entrance of the hospital, health workers have staged a mobilisation, putting the understaffing and pressure on the NHS at the centre of their concerns. Employees’ president Demosthenes Michalakis spoke of a marginal situation, with thousands of days off and holidays due and staff exhaustion, stressing that “buildings don’t work without people”. He called for real raises and inclusion in the heavy and unhealthy sector.
ENIF President Christos Karachristos spoke of a “health trade minister” and “ghost clinics”, denouncing doctor transfers and shortages that weaken critical structures.
Panagiotis Touchtidis, representing PDEDIN, spoke of the NHS being “left to its fate”, with delays in recruitment by AΣEP and massive staff departures.
