Mitsotakis visits renovated Vari Health Center, vows continued upgrades to Greece's health system

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the renovated Vari Health Center, highlighting its transformation with funds from the Recovery Fund. The center, originally built in 1989 and in a problematic state, has been completely modernized and equipped to provide quality primary healthcare to thousands of residents in the wider area.

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At the beginning of our term, we set a central goal to utilize the resources of the Recovery Fund to make the largest intervention in the infrastructure of the National Health System since its establishment.

The upgrade of the Vari center is part of a larger national plan to improve primary care and the National Health System (ΕΣΥ). This initiative includes the renovation of 156 health centers and over 90 public hospitals across Greece. The Vari facility now boasts an emergency department, diagnostic imaging, an ultrasound section, a laboratory, and specialized medical clinics.

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A health center that dates back to 1989, was in a problematic state, has become practically new, is equipped and has the capacity today to provide quality primary healthcare to tens of thousands of residents, my mayor, of the wider area.

During his visit, accompanied by Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous and the Mayor of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni Grigoris Konstantellos, Mitsotakis spoke with staff and citizens. He noted that the center's staff has increased by 23% since 2019, now totaling nearly 50 people. The center's visitor numbers also rose by 19% last year compared to 2019, handling 37,264 visits.

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I want to say a special thank you to the doctors, the nurses, all the administrative staff. You are the ones who keep the National Health System standing.

Mitsotakis thanked the doctors, nurses, and administrative staff, stating, "You are the ones who keep the National Health System standing." He acknowledged existing challenges, particularly regarding nurse staffing, and mentioned efforts to make the nursing profession more attractive. He urged citizens to trust primary care centers, even for emergencies during their operating hours.

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We know well what we have done. We know well where there may be shortages. We do not hide problems under the rug. We know that we have issues regarding staffing for nurses, which is why we have also made significant moves to make the nursing profession more attractive than it is today.