SOCIAL ACTION & SOLIDARITY ›

Upgrade of the National Health System Programme (2019)

Upgrade of the National Health System Programme (2019)

In memory of those who lost their lives in the wildfires of July 2018 in Attica, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation expressed its commitment to contribute to the collective effort to support the affected populations and assist in the restoration of the affected areas and their infrastructure, by implementing an emergency programme budgeted at € 5,000,000 for the upgrade of the National Health System.

Through the implementation of this programme, the Foundation aims to meet the urgent needs in the Public Health sector that are related to the handling of emergency cases. The upgrade of specialised healthcare services in response to a disaster of the magnitude of the July 2018 wildfires, is crucial, given that the Health sector constitutes an established, critical link in the chain of civil protection and management of any state-of-emergency situation.

Following a thorough examination of the situation and prioritisation of major needs, as well as meetings between Foundation staff and the heads of the relevant Attica Health Services Districts, the Directors of Attica Hospitals and in collaboration with representatives of competent agencies of the Hellenic State, the Foundation decided and set in motion in 2019 the following donations:

  • Funding the study and implementation of the redesign, renovation and upgrading of the Emergency Department of the General Hospital of Athens “G. Gennimatas”.
  • Funding the upgrade of the medical and technological equipment of the Emergency Department (ED) and the 2nd Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as well as the creation of a High Dependency Unit (HDU) at the “KAT” General Hospital of Attica.
  • Funding the upgrading of the medical and technological equipment of the Emergency Department of the General Hospital of Elefsis “Thriasio” and the Intensive Care Unit of the Latsio Burn Centre at the “Thriasio” Hospital.
  • Funding the procurement of operating equipment for blood donation centres and mobile blood collection units of the National Blood Donation Centre.

At the same time, the Foundation has taken the following actions, which pertain to the immediate support of our fellow citizens, as well as the restoration of infrastructure damaged by the 2018 wildfires:

  • Individual medical care assistance – an initiative that has been funded by the Foundation since the end of 2018 – to support the burn victims of the July 2018 wildfires, in collaboration with the 1st Health Directorate of Attica and the Coordinating Committee of Mati Attiki Residents.
  • Donation for the reconstruction of buildings and damage restoration at the "Agios Andreas Centre for the Restoration of Health Losses" of the Hellenic Army General Staff, which was completed in 2018.

The Foundation aims for these interventions to contribute in the medium and long-run to the preparedness of requisite services in preventing and addressing similar state-of-emergency situations in an effective and timely manner.

 

“I would like to thank the Latsis Public Benefit Foundation for the targeted donation that brought smiles and joy, not only to the staff of the Hospital, but also to the citizens who will enjoy high-quality medical services, as the diagnoses will be performed more promptly, with greater accuracy and with less radiation impact.”

Ioannis Iliopoulos

Director, “KAT” General Hospital of Attica