Deputy Health Minister Irini Agapidaki highlighted the significant progress made recently, overturning a 40-year negative tradition in the operation of the public health system, especially in preventive care, while speaking at the ygeiamou.gr conference.

Specifically, in response to questions from Proto Thema journalist and ygeiamou.gr editorial director, Panagiota Karlatira, Ms. Agapidaki emphasized that “preventive programs are a new service in the National Health System (NHS). For 40 years, the Ministry of Health had not fulfilled its mission. This is the first time our country is responding in the field of prevention.”

Additionally, Ms. Agapidaki mentioned that “the first biopsies have been carried out, and the initial surgeries for colorectal cancer have begun,” clarifying, however, that “we are not trying to replace colonoscopy with the self-test. What do other countries do to increase the percentage of people who go for a colonoscopy? They use the self-test as an attraction tool.”

As the Deputy Minister announced, “in a few days, the cardiovascular program will also become a reality.” She noted, on a personal note, “I also feel fear, like anyone else, before a medical test. But I cannot accept that women are still dying today in Greece, for example, from breast cancer, simply because they fear mammograms.”