Health is a fundamental human right. It is enshrined in Treaties and Conventions of International Organizations, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in the Constitution of Greece and in Greek legislation.
According to the Constitution of Greece:
- Everyone has the right to the protection of their health and genetic identity.
- The state shall ensure the health of citizens and shall take special measures for the protection of youth, old age, disability and the care of the needy.
- Torture, any physical injury, damage to health, or psychological violence, as well as any other insult to human dignity, are prohibited and punished, as prescribed by law.
According to Greek Legislation, the rights of Recipients of Health Services in the Public Health System are as follows:
Every person, regardless of nationality, color, place of residence, legal status, religious or philosophical beliefs, sexual orientation, economic status or insurance coverage:
- has the right to health and a claim from the state to ensure access to quality and safe health services that meet his needs
- has the right to the provision of primary health care and hospital care with respect for his dignity, freedom and safety
- has the right to consent to or refuse any diagnostic or therapeutic procedure (in the case of a patient with partial or complete mental incapacity, the exercise of this right is made by the person who legally acts on his behalf)
- has the right to be fully informed about the state of his health and to participate in the making of any decision that concerns him
- has the right to be informed in a timely manner about the risks that may arise or arise due to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
- has the right to protection of privacy and the confidentiality of his personal information
- has the right to respect and recognition of his religious and ideological beliefs
- has the right to protest and lodge objections to any act or omission carried out in a health unit.
The Ministry of Health operates an Independent Department for the Protection of the Rights of Recipients of Health Services, directly reporting to the Secretary General, which focuses on formulating policy for the protection of the rights of recipients of health services.
The Department is responsible, among others, for:
- The coordination, cooperation, control, supervision and monitoring of the proper functioning of the Offices for the Protection of the Rights of Recipients of Health Services of Hospitals and the corresponding Offices of the Regional Health Administrations.
- The determination of operating procedures, the provision of proper functioning and the cooperation with the Control Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Recipients of Health Services as well as with the Special Control Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Individuals with Mental Disorders.
- The cooperation with state bodies, organs and authorities, for all kinds of management of issues related to the protection of the individual and social rights of recipients of health services that also concern the healthy population.
- The contribution and cooperation with co-responsible for the organization of programs and social health policies, which concern inequalities-discrimination-special categories of the population-vulnerable groups of the population.
- Contributing to the design, development and implementation of awareness programs for healthcare workers on the rights of healthcare recipients.
- Overseeing the implementation of the operating room list process
Also, the Ministry of Health operates:
- Committee for the Control of the Protection of the Rights of Recipients of Health Services
- Special Committee for the Control of the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Mental Disorders
The institutional framework for the Protection of the Rights of Health Service Recipients can be found at the link https://www.moh.gov.gr/articles/citizen/dikaiwmata-lhptwn-yphresiwn-ygeias/thesmiko-plaisio/5255-thesmiko-plaisio-prostasias-dikaiwmatwn-twn-lhptwn-yphresiwn-ygeias
You can contact the Office for the Protection of the Rights of Recipients of Health Services at the e-mail: complain@gnkerkyras.gr as well as in the ways described in the section “Για τον πολίτη”, at the Hospital website.
