Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-02-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM briefed by health minister on thorny health system procurements issue

[01] PM briefed by health minister on thorny health system procurements issue

Avramopoulos told reporters after the meeting that the ministry was promoting substantial legislative work, adding that the tabling of a bill on procurements for public hospitals was imminent; one aimed at consolidating transparency and proper management at all the hospitals throughout the country.

He said this "deep incision" would save approximately 500 million euros annually, adding that the ministry would proceed with a strengthening of the National Health System (ESY) employees' incomes and the hiring of more personnel.

The health minister further said that the hiring of 6,000 health-care employees was also proceeding, adding that this would bring substantial relief to the ESY, while new competitions for the hiring of medical personnel would also proceed at a rapid pace, via ASEP (the public sector hiring examinations board) procedures.

In addition, other bills concerning physical therapists, as well as a wide range of outstanding issues and arrangements, were also being advanced.

Regarding a question on whether a 500-million-euros annual figure, cited as the cost of price overruns, had in the past been "skimmed" by "middlemen", Avramopoulos stressed that what was important was the future and the activation of controls and transparency mechanisms, as well as the efficient management of procurements.

The health minister underlined that the government was unyielding and determined not to allow wasteful spending and any lack of transparency, noting that the consolidation of controls and transparency was a "moral and political obligation."

The minister also expressed regret that Greece continued to rank high with respect to a corruption index.

Caption: A file photo of PM Costas Karamanlis.

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