Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Megara Health Center, one of 160 health centers undergoing comprehensive renovation and upgrades funded by the Recovery Fund, as part of efforts to improve all levels of public health infrastructure and digitize services.

The renovation work, covering an area of approximately 1,200 square meters, includes modernization of equipment, replacement of floors and ceilings in the laboratory, emergency department, sanitary areas, and other rooms. Water and sewage infrastructure was also replaced, new electrical installations were constructed, and the building was upgraded for energy efficiency with the installation of thermal insulation, vapor barriers, heat pumps, and a 550W photovoltaic unit to enhance energy performance.

The Before and After of the Megara Health Center Inaugurated by Mitsotakis – “By the End of the Four-Year Term, We’ll Be Talking About a New NHS”

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis and Deputy Minister Irini Agapidaki, spoke with staff members, who highlighted the unit’s complete transformation and the extension of its operating hours to a 24/7 schedule, serving the entire Megara region.

As part of this effort, staffing at the health center increased by 15 people since 2019, with the recruitment of three additional general practitioners and one more pediatrician planned, enabling the unit to fully meet the primary healthcare needs of the Megara area.

See the Health Center Before the Renovation

See the Health Center After the Renovation

At the end of the visit, the Prime Minister stated:
“In 2022, the last time I visited Megara and this facility, I made a promise that Megara would get a fully renovated, modern, and well-staffed health center. I am pleased that today, standing here, we can say: we said it, and we did it.

Of course, we managed to do it because we leveraged the Recovery Fund resources for a drastic upgrade of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure. What we see here in Megara is just one of 160 health centers being completely renovated, and it is the best proof that European funds ultimately have a social impact that Greek citizens can see in their daily lives, especially in the critical sector of healthcare.

I want to congratulate the Ministry of Health for the speed and efficiency with which it has implemented all the projects funded by the Recovery Fund.

But the biggest congratulations go to you—the management and staff of the health center—because you kept this facility open and functional while it was being renovated, which I know is never easy.

I believe you can now see that your efforts have paid off. You have a workplace that lives up to your expectations, and Megara and the surrounding region now have a high-quality, 24-hour primary care facility that can meet all the basic healthcare needs of both residents and visitors. So, congratulations once again.

And, of course, we must acknowledge the project maturation unit of TAIPED. You know, when we managed to secure €36 billion from the Recovery Fund, our main concern was always the speed and transparency of absorbing these vital European funds for our country.

Every time we see a project inaugurated and ready, it brings us not only satisfaction but also renewed energy to complete all major projects funded by the Recovery Fund. Because beyond the buildings and the staff, I want to especially highlight the tremendous effort going into the digital transformation of healthcare.

We will soon have more to say, together with the Minister and Deputy Minister. Greece, once lagging behind, will soon be at the forefront of Europe in terms of the digital patient record, the usability of the MyHealth app, and the ability for your information systems to communicate. For example, a radiograph done here will be instantly accessible for a second opinion using technology.

This is a real revolution funded by the Recovery Fund—one that will truly allow us to say, by the end of the four-year term, that we have a new National Health System.

But let me conclude by saying: nothing is possible without people, without the staff of the National Health System, especially in primary care. You were on the frontlines in the fight against the pandemic. You held up the NHS and the country. The least we can do is recognize your contribution and, to the extent possible, support you financially—rewarding you for the exceptional service you offer to the country.

So, congratulations and best wishes for the health center.”