The Ministry of Health is giving public sector doctors the freedom to engage in private practice, according to a regulation included in a draft law of the Ministry of Health titled “Public Health Actions – Regulations for the Strengthening of the National Health System,” which was made available for public consultation today. The same draft law also greenlights COVID-19 vaccinations at pharmacies, with citizens being charged 5 euros for the service, and additional charges of 1 and 3 euros for diagnostic tests.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis had announced that he would activate the law according to which, for the first time since the establishment of the National Health System (ESY), the ban on parallel employment of doctors from public hospitals is lifted.

According to the new regulation, “ESY doctors may maintain a private practice, provide medical services in any capacity, including as consultants or expert consultants, for education/training/supervision of healthcare professionals, organization of lectures and scientific events, writing scientific articles, medical health updates, in a private clinic or private diagnostic or therapeutic laboratory or pharmaceutical companies, or medical technology product companies, and generally in any kind of private businesses providing or covering health services, provided that they are granted the relevant license.”

As stated by the Minister of Health: “On January 4, I was sworn in as Minister of Health for the second time. On March 7, our first legislative proposal is put up for public consultation to solve the longstanding problems of the National Health System as quickly as possible. Most importantly, I highlight the expansion of doctors’ ability to engage in private practice, utilizing their clinical experience, in order to provide further incentives to make the position of a doctor in ESY more attractive, as well as to address any issues arising from the operation of afternoon surgeries. Otherwise, there are many provisions that, collectively, will greatly assist the system’s operation. I am proud that we moved with lightning speed.”

Vaccinations at pharmacies, charges for diagnostic tests

In the same draft law, Article 24 introduces a charge of 1 euro and 3 euros for citizens undergoing tests performed at private diagnostic centers and clinic-laboratory doctors. It was a request from representatives of diagnostic centers to take a deep breath from the excessive clawback.

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As explicitly stated, analogous to the patient charge of one euro at pharmacies for prescription execution, EOPYY health beneficiaries will pay from April 1st to contracted private diagnostic centers and clinic-laboratory doctors one euro per referral for conducting diagnostic tests on biological materials and three euros per referral for conducting imaging studies.

Additionally, Article 48 promotes COVID-19 vaccination at private pharmacies, within the framework of their operation as Primary Health Care Units. The certified pharmacist may perform seasonal vaccination and administer tetanus antitoxin to citizens in their pharmacy space, as well as “carry out all adult vaccinations referred to in the National Adult Vaccination Program, as well as administer the vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, prescribed by physicians.”

The provision stipulates that for each COVID-19 vaccination performed at the pharmacy, regardless of the type of vaccine, the licensed pharmacist is compensated with a fee of 5 euros, plus the corresponding VAT.

Exemptions from this process include immunocompromised patients for live attenuated virus vaccines and pregnant women for all vaccines except the flu vaccine.