At an event to honour the Stavros Niarchos Foundation's (SNF) Global Relief Initiative for the Covid-19 Pandemic, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed out that the coronavirus crisis exposed the tragic weakness of the National Health System and to correct them with great speed.
Held outdoors at the "Sotiria" Thoracic Diseases General Hospital in Athens, Mitsotakis recognised the importance of partnerships on large-scale issues.
He also recognised those on the front lines of the pandemic- doctors, nurses and hospital staff - who contributed to turning Greece into a global model on how to handle the health crisis successfully.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Health with Minister Vassilis Kikilias, while SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos was honorary guest.
"We must find joins between the state, which has proven to be entirely irreplaceable, and the private sector as well as the society of citizens, to get together, join our forces and jointly plan what I believe is the basic target and the greatest challenge of the future in health - the 'day after' for the National Health System," Mitsotakis said.
SNF's gift will also help Greece reach the EU average of having 12 intensive care unit (ICU) beds per 100,000 people by the end of this year, especially in view of an expected second wave of the virus in the fall.
Mitsotakis also made a special reference to the 'unprecedented', as he called it, gift of recognition by SNF of nearly 4,000 medical, nursing and cleaning staff at hospitals for their front-line services, with €7.2 million for bonuses distributed after an agreement with the state and the help of the Ministry of Health.
Live | Υποδεχόμαστε 174 νέες κλίνες ΜΕΘ και ΜΑΦ σε 15 δημόσια νοσοκομεία. Το Ίδρυμα Σταύρος Νιάρχος αναλαμβάνει να χρηματοδοτήσει την κατασκευή και την ανακαίνιση των κτιριακών υποδομών ενώ το Δημόσιο αναλαμβάνει να τις εξοπλίσει και να τις στελεχώσει. https://t.co/kYzV8qEn2E
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 1, 2020
In addition, the PM announced that a special platform would be set up to match the needs of the health sector with the interests of donors, tracking their gifts and destination. "This will bridge the needs of every state agency with the donations of the private sector, and the progress of the project will be trackable step by step," he said, "with donors knowing the progress of their gift and the state being able to check whether needs are properly covered."
SNF's gift to Greece includes €15 million for the construction of new units equipped with 174 state-of-the art ICU beds at 15 state hospitals throughout Greece.
The foundation is also building three 'green technology' hospitals (announced before the pandemic outbreak), has provided initiatives to expand or upgrade infrastructure, and will provide training in ICU units to 7,000 professionals over five years. All initiatives amount to over €380 million.
On his part, SNF's co-president Andreas Dracopoulos said: "It is widely recognised that the Greek state responded immediately to facing and handling the pandemic to now, aided by the responsible attitude of all Greeks."
However he warmed of remaining vigilant and being prepared for all eventualities. "We hope that these specific donations help public health be ready to face any emergency, both now and in the future," he added, before providing detailed information about the distribution of aid to hospitals on the mainland and the islands.
