The new era that is coming for the Mobile Health Units (COMY) of EODY with an expanded role, stable funding and institutional protection announced the deputy minister HealthIrini Agapidakisat noon on Monday (10.11.25).
The permanent inclusion of the EODY COMY in the National Health Service is expected – according to the plan – to change the landscape of public health, not only in the capital, but also in the most remote corners of Greece.
After four years of continuous action on the front line, COMY are moving into the “post-COVID” era, now acquiring a permanent character within the National Health System.
In a press conference given by Irini Agapidaki, in his presence Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadisof the Deputy Minister of Health, Mario Themistocleus and the president of EODY Christos Hatzichristodoulouthe new plan was presented that provides for the institutional and operational upgrading of the COMYS with stable funding, permanent staff and the expansion of their scope to the entire spectrum of public health.
Mrs. Agapidaki, who has undertaken from the first moment the redefining of the role of COMY, spoke of “a major reform that transforms an emergency mechanism into a stable public health structure”.
“COMY proved their value in the pandemic. Now they are moving to the next stage: from crisis response to prevention and day-to-day care of the community. “No public health action can last without stable, organized structures and people with decent working conditions,” he said.
The new plan foresees the inclusion of the COMYs in the Health Regions (YPE), with the EODY maintaining their scientific and operational coordination. The Minister of Health underlined that “the government is not letting a valuable legacy of the pandemic be lost”.
As Ms. Agapidaki noted, the new plan provides for the service of approximately 500,000 citizens annually, with priority in isolated and inaccessible areas of the country.
Field of action beyond the pandemic
Today there are 128 active COMYs across the country, which, as announced, will increase to 150 by 2026. Their new responsibilities are no longer limited to epidemiological surveillance and diagnostic tests, but are extended to:
Home vaccinations of the elderly, the chronically ill and the disabled,
Screening for diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions in remote areas,
Information and prevention programs for oral health, mental resilience and addiction prevention,
Targeted actions for vulnerable populations such as refugees, Roma, homeless and people with mental disorders.
How will citizens make appointments?
According to what was announced, citizens will be able to schedule an appointment with COMY through the digital platform gov.gr, but also by phone through a special number of EODY, 1135, every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The plan envisages a unified digital appointment system, a special platform that will operate in 2026, through which citizens will be able to declare the type of service they need – such as vaccination, preventive check-up or home visit – and be automatically informed about the availability of the nearest mobile unit.
At the same time, it will be possible for personal doctors to electronically refer their patients to COMYS, when it comes to vulnerable groups or cases that cannot be moved easily.
The Municipalities will also have an active role, informing the residents about the schedule of visits of the mobile units to the local communities.
As stated by Mrs. Agapidaki, the goal is to “simplify and digitize every process so that the citizen can access the services of COMY without inconvenience”. In remote areas, the units will operate with a pre-announced visiting schedule and inform residents through local municipalities, KEPs and Health Centers.
The Deputy Minister underlined, however, that in cases of emergency, citizens should directly contact the EKAB (166) and not the Komy, which have a purely preventive and supportive role.
Funding and human resources
Ms. Agapidaki explained that the continuation of the COMYs is ensured through combined funding from the Recovery Fund and the NSRF 2021-2027, while the goal is to obtain permanent staff and stable employment contracts.
They are staffed by 900 people, who contribute to the operation of 180 levels, while they will soon be reinforced with 50 doctors.
For his part, the Undersecretary of Health, Marios Themistokleous, described the COMY as a “power multiplier for the NHS”.
“During the pandemic, they proved that they can mobilize in a few hours and reach places where there is no Primary Care. Now their action expands into an organized framework, with clear goals and measurable results,” he said.
Mr. Themistokleous noted that the COMMYs will substantially contribute to the implementation of the “PROLAMPANO” program, bringing preventive medicine services close to every citizen, even in the most remote villages of the country.
Source: iatropedia.gr