Digitalization has acquired a more general character in Greece lately. We are talking about a complete upgrade of health systems. We are talking about the Single Individual Health Record. Its application begins. We have the integration of systems in hospitals”, pointed out the Alternate Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous, during a relevant discussion at the 9th Economic Forum of Delphi, which takes place in Delphi on April 10-13 and is under the auspices of H.E. the President of the Republic, Mrs. Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

Mr. Themistocleous said: “Some things are starting that will reduce bureaucracy. From September, the calculation of the clawback will be able to be done automatically, in real time. We remove paper in doctors’ applications, a platform comes for the procedure. Digitalization is the entry of very big changes.”

He also stressed that: “Digitalization is one thing, Health technology is another. For example, we distribute ten devices at home, but there must also be a center that evaluates the information from the patient. We will have the integrated system of ris pacs (transcription of medical acts) in all hospitals in the country in 8 months from today, Also, on call of a hospital one will be able to see his movement with color marking, so that he knows if he will wait if he goes there. This will be ready by 2025.”

For his part, Dimitris Nikas, President of the Federation of Health Research & Biotechnology Industries (SEIV) noted: “From prevention, prognosis, diagnosis, to treatment and monitoring. Digitalization brings many solutions.”

Evangelos Kalamakis, Managing Director, SOFMEDICA said: “What the state should ask for is data. Artificial intelligence platforms come along and gather the data, and become a “co-driver” of healthcare professionals. The authorities must force us to give data and concrete information.”

Kostas Athanasakis, Assistant Professor at the University of West Attica pointed out that: “The coming years will be very important in terms of health technology. In order to ensure the sustainability of health systems, they must be financially sustainable. Let’s open the conversation about their evaluation.”

Finally, Dimitris Kontopidis, President of Digital Health at the Greek Patients Association, underlined, among other things: “Patients’ experience in digital transformation should be about something more than, for example, digital appointments. During the pandemic it was a good practice that citizens learned to use new technologies. The patient could self-diagnose, do the test on his own.”

The discussion was moderated by journalist Vicky Karatzaferis.