Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-05-17

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM briefed by health minister on primary healthcare bill

[02] Public awareness campaign on new technologies

[01] PM briefed by health minister on primary healthcare bill

Avramopoulos spoke of a major institutional change which "consolidates transparency in the wider field of health, and in the hospitals, and has to do with procurements", while he stressed that a bill on primary healthcare has also been drafted and would be tabled in Parliament.

"Never before in the past, despite the efforts made, had we reached the desired point for the development of a broad network for primary healthcare, which is something that will act positively for the country's hospital network, providing services to the public at the closest possible point," he said.

The minister said he also briefed Karamanlis on his recent initiatives aimed at opening up a dialogue on the future of the National Health System (ESY).

The ESY, he said, has provided many and useful services in the past years, "but everyone acknowledges that it has become outdated by the new status quo", adding that it was necessary to move forward so as to adapt the ESY to the new status quo, while keeping the public nature of the health system non-negotiable.

"We are advancing our reform work in the health sector, too, with the completion of the four-year term (in government) as our horizon," Avramopoulos noted.

Asked by reporters whether the timing of the next general elections had been discussed, Avramopoulos said that "if something arises, we shall learn of it together with you".

To another question, Avramopoulos said the ministry was determined to launch a "new era" in the health sector, providing useful services to the Greek citizen with respect to his personality, modernising the system, and advancing reforms which will consolidate transparency, contribute to proper management of the public monies and, chiefly, will bring about results.

[02] Public awareness campaign on new technologies

Alogoskoufis stressed that all the means will be used to urge citizens to get to know the new possibilities and new opportunities offered by the new technologies.

"The new technologies are here, and we can utilise them," he said.

The purpose of the campaign is to familiarise the public with the benefits and prospects offered by information and communication technologies, and to boost the use of the new technological means.

In that framework, spot ads will appear on television and radio stations throughout the country, as well as advertisements in the print media.

In the coming weeks, a four-digit telephone number will be introduced to provide information to the public on the possibilities and opportunities provided by new technologies in all aspects of social and economic life.

In addition, a webpage will also be set up for the purpose of introducing the public to "digital Greece".

Further, competitions and 'excellence' actions will be organised to highlight the possibilities offered by the new technologies, while day seminars and related events will also be held.

The public awareness campaign will run to October 2008.

Information Society special secretary for 'Digital Greece', Professor Vassilis Assimakopoulos, also addressed the event.

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