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- Ελληνικά
The hours and days of operation of the evening outpatient clinics of the OCYPY will be extended, mainly in specialties such as Cardiology, Nephrology and Endocrinology, so that there will be a relative decongestion in the waiting lists, said Health Minister Dr. Popi Kanari.
The issue of waiting lists was the subject of a wide-ranging meeting at the Ministry of Health today. The meeting, which was chaired by the Minister of Health, was attended by representatives of OKYPY, OAI, PIS and OSAK.
Dr Kanari said that the aim is to reduce waiting lists, especially for emergency cases, so that patients are provided with rapid care and are not inconvenienced.
The Health Minister said that during the meeting "there was extensive discussion about the reasons why we have reached this situation". Some solutions were proposed, she said, which can be implemented immediately, while others will take further time.
Dr. Kanari explained that among the immediate solutions, the OCHA will proceed to extend the hours and days of operation of the evening outpatient clinics.
In addition, the Minister noted that during the meeting with the competent bodies, it has been discussed to allow personal physicians to prescribe medicines for some other cases, such as vitamins for osteoporosis, so that a referral to a specialist physician is not necessary. "That is, the role of personal physicians should be strengthened and we then move on to more difficult and not immediate solutions with the OAI on issues of system change and mechanisms in the context of the implementation of the GHS," Dr Kanari noted, adding that some mechanisms need to be differentiated so the issue will be studied further.
Dr Kanari said that the issue of waiting lists is also related to the issue of the culture of patients, some of whom, she said, are pushing their personal physicians to refer them to a specialist without the need for multiple referrals. "Patients must also understand that when they do not need immediate service, they must give priority to those who need immediate service," the minister noted, adding that at the same time, "doctors must also be given the freedom to define what are emergencies and what are not.
At the end of the meeting, Dr Kanari said there was a commitment on the part of the OAI to study proposals and suggestions made today for additional measures aimed at reducing waiting lists and for the Agency to come back with timetables for their implementation.
(SX)
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