Tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives are beginning to result from the targeted interventions of the government and the Ministry of Health in the National Health System (ESY). In the Emergency Departments (EDs) of the Attica Basin, the battle of on-call duties remains intense, but small victories are being won, as the Plan for the Improvement of Emergency Services in Attica is being implemented.

At the same time, in the area of outpatient care, the digital portal finddoctors.gov.gr, which enables free appointment bookings with doctors and for medical tests, has changed the way and speed of service for hundreds of thousands of Greeks within its first month of operation—ushering in a new era in the healthcare services provided to citizens.

Recognizing the need for immediate, safe, and easy access to the healthcare system, the Ministry of Health has been pursuing significant reforms in recent months. Electronic appointments with doctors and laboratories became a reality—after two delays requested by doctors for preparation time—starting April 1st. The first, highly positive results from its implementation were presented last Tuesday by the Health Ministry leadership to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for whom the healthcare system remains a top priority.

215,649 Appointments in One Month

The finddoctors.gov.gr platform has integrated the country’s 315 Health Centers (KY) and 107 Local Health Units (TOMY), along with 3,300 doctors contracted with the National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (EOPYY), while private doctors who wish to participate are gradually being added. Through this digital portal, both EOPYY-insured and uninsured citizens with access to public healthcare services are being served.

According to data obtained by Proto Thema, 215,649 electronic medical appointments were booked and completed within a single month—by both insured and uninsured citizens—mostly at public facilities and with doctors contracted to EOPYY in Attica. However, based on the healthcare professionals and Primary Healthcare structures already integrated, the platform has the capacity to serve at least 340,000 citizens per month, with an equivalent number of appointments.

Access to finddoctors.gov.gr is possible using Taxisnet credentials or a code issued by a personal doctor based on the individual’s medical file, along with the national health insurance number (AMKA). The platform allows users to search for doctors by specialty and region and offers the ability to choose from all groups of doctors—EOPYY-affiliated, public health structure physicians (for free visits), or private doctors (if they opt in), where visits are paid.

Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health: “Free Doctors and Exams for All”

“The reform of EOPYY’s electronic appointment system proves that when everyone does their job properly, the outcome can only be right. We are capable of providing healthcare services to citizens, saving money for the health system, and of course, reinvesting what we save back into the system—in this case, by increasing doctors’ compensation for medical visits. The implementation of electronic appointments is proof that we should not fear change, especially when it has a positive impact on the system and on citizens. I regret that institutional representatives stood against this major reform that has already benefited hundreds of thousands of Greeks in just five weeks of operation. That opposition was unfair to the efforts made by the Ministry of Health. Now, everyone will be able to find a doctor quickly, easily, and for free—and to receive free diagnostic exams as well. Major changes are also underway in the challenging field of hospital emergency duty in Attica. The improvement plan is already showing promising signs. Even the most skeptical citizens will experience and acknowledge the difference within a few weeks—as we have promised,” said Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis in an interview with Proto Thema.

Outpatient Clinics in June

In the next phase, scheduled for June, the regular outpatient clinics of all ESY (National Health System) hospitals will be integrated into finddoctors.gov.gr, dramatically increasing the system’s capacity by 600,000 additional appointments per month. This means nearly 1 million free medical appointments could be completed monthly—quickly, simply, and easily through public health structures. Appointment bookings and management can also be done through the MyHealthApp in addition to the web platform.

Rapid Improvement in Access

The digital service data for April show that citizens were served much faster, with an average wait time of just 2 days for a doctor’s appointment, compared to a month or more before the digital system. For diagnostic exams, the current average wait time is 9 to 11 days, compared to 7 weeks previously.

For instance, at the Alexandras Health Center, appointment times for lab tests are now down to 10 days, compared to 42 days in March when appointments were only made by phone. This dramatic reduction in wait time brings not only financial and emotional relief for citizens navigating the healthcare system, but also saves critical time for early diagnosis and treatment of potential health issues.

The platform, modeled on the one used for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, is user-friendly and continuously improving. After the outpatient clinics, the next to be integrated are Mental Health Services, Primary Health Care, and non-profit organizations (AMKEs) supervised by the Ministry of Health.

The 1,500 “Missing” Doctors

Beyond its usefulness to insured citizens, finddoctors.gov.gr also functions as a transparency and oversight tool. Until March, appointments were not recorded digitally, and EOPYY reimbursed doctors for approximately 650,000 visits monthly, paying about €5.2 million per month.

Each contracted doctor was allowed to see up to 200 insured patients monthly, receiving €10 per visit, or €2,000 per month. They were required to send EOPYY records of the patients seen.

But digital records from April revealed that only 1,779 of 3,300 contracted doctors actually used the system, completing nearly 216,000 appointments. That means 1,521 doctors either did not see patients or failed to log visits in the platform. EOPYY is reviewing this behavior, as it may reflect misuse of their contracts.

In the past, audits showed that some doctors simply copied patient health ID numbers (AMKA) from month to month to falsely claim the full 200 visits and receive €2,000 monthly. For now, doctors’ activity on finddoctors.gov.gr will be monitored for two more months. After that, decisions will be made regarding doctors with low or zero appointment activity.

In April, the recorded appointments resulted in €2.1 million in reimbursements to doctors, a reduction of €3.1 million compared to previous monthly payments. Ministry sources believe this savings could be reinvested into the healthcare system, particularly by raising the doctor visit fee, which is widely acknowledged to be too low. A 15% increase (from €10 to €11.50 per visit) is currently considered feasible.

The Challenge of Emergency Duties

Major interventions are underway in hospitals as the Emergency Duty Improvement Plan in Attica unfolds. The Ministry of Health leadership—particularly Deputy Minister Marios Themistocleous—is closely monitoring all initiatives, expecting that within the coming weeks the changes will become visible, and that by the end of the year, there will be a measurable reduction in long waiting times and overcrowding currently plaguing Emergency Departments (EDs) in the greater Athens area.

The plan includes seven key interventions in the emergency duty system and the operation of Attica’s EDs, where an average of 2,451 patients seek care daily. The majority—83.5%—are walk-in patients, while 16.5% arrive via ambulance (EKAV).

Thanks to the integration of Health Centers into the emergency duty schedule, a reform led by Alternate Minister Irini Agapidaki, the burden on hospital EDs is being reduced, gaining precious time both for patients and for the healthcare system overall. Since April, the Alexandras, Kallithea, Marousi, and Rafina Health Centers have been on emergency rotation in Attica, and another five centers—in Vari, Megara, Keratsini, Elefsina, and Peristeri—are set to join. These Health Centers handle mild emergency cases, helping patients avoid long waits at hospitals while allowing hospitals to function more effectively for critical cases.

The “Bracelet” System Begins

Within the next three weeks, the Evangelismos Hospital will launch a patient tracking system using QR codes, known as the “bracelet.” People arriving at the ED will be given a portable GPS device that constantly logs their movement throughout the hospital—recording visits to different departments and delays, which are currently lengthy. The bracelet system will not be issued to patients transported by ambulance (EKAV).

In one month, 14 more hospitals across Greece will be ready to enter the digital emergency care era. According to the Ministry’s plan, by mid-June the tracking system will be implemented in the following facilities:

KAT

Sismanogleio

Amalia Fleming

G. Gennimatas

Laiko

Paidon Agia Sofia

Paidon Pentelis

Paidon Pan. & Agl. Kyriakou

Agios Savvas

Agioi Anargyroi

University Hospital of Ioannina

University Hospital of Patras

Karpathos Hospital “Agios Ioannis”

Military Hospitals Join the Effort

Military hospitals will also help decongest Attica’s EDs by joining the emergency rotation. Based on the plan, each military hospital will take emergency shifts 8 times per month, handling only cases transported via EKAV. It is estimated that up to 70 cases can be managed during the agreed hours—from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.