Greece’s experience in the prevention of cardiovascular disease through the National Prevention Program “PRESSONO” was presented by the Deputy Minister of HealthIrene Agapidakis, at a special event for the prevention of cardiovascular disease organized yesterday by EFPIA at the European Cardiology Conference (ESC).
“PRESSURE is the largest public health investment in Greece for the last 40 years,” the Deputy Minister of Health underlined, presenting Greece’s strategy in the design and implementation of the Cardiovascular Risk and Disease Prevention and Disease Program, which proves that prevention can be implemented.
Specifically, with regard to the cardiovascular risk prevention program, over 1.8 million citizens have so far performed the blood tests free, more than 30,000 people have been referred to the second stage control for coronary heart disease, and 7,127 were referred to ischemia.
“We have used funding from the Recovery and Resilience Fund to develop the infrastructure for the proceedings, which helped us overcome significant obstacles and, despite the challenges, implement an ambitious prevention plan that already saves lives,” he said, noting that prevention is now being made.
Mrs Agapidakis emphasized that the program is changing the culture of Greeks on health issues. From “I expect to get sick to go to the doctor”, we go to “I go to the doctor before I get sick to avoid the disease”.
In the debate on the panel “The EU Cardiovascular Health Plan-Implications and Opportunities for EU Countries” with the participation of representatives and other EU member states, the Deputy Minister of Health emphasized that it is necessary to develop a strong European framework for cardiovascular disease, securing access to equal access to. European citizens. It is a key priority to reduce premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in the EU, who in their vast majority are found in productive people and could have been prevented and avoided.
Representatives of the Commission and of the Member States congratulated the Deputy Minister of Health on the Prevention Program for Cardiovascular Diseases in the context of the preventive and expressed interest in adopting it in their own countries.
Experts who participated in the panel noted that Greece is showing the way to the direction that the Pan -European Cardiovascular Plan expected from the European Commission should take the end of the year.
“Cardiovascular disease remains the first cause of death in Europe. The example of our country shows that prevention policies are very positively evaluated by citizens and have a direct impact by saving lives. Political will is the most basic prerequisite for developing an integrated prevention program as it did in our country.
I catch it embodies the prime minister’s vision for more health for everyone. And its application was based on the internationally scientifically documented practice, so it can be easily adopted by other Member States and we are at the disposal of everyone to contribute in every way to save even more lives, “said Ms. Agapidakis.