Μake us preferred on Google Deputy Health Minister Irene Agapidaki announced that the adult obesity treatment program will continue in November, with up to eight doses of drug treatment available to 43,500 beneficiaries. The obesity program had been suspended in June.
Speaking to MEGA, she referred to the findings of a new poll on public approval of the “Prolamvano” (“I Prevent”) national prevention program, and criticized PASOK for its stance in Parliament on continuing the program with national funds.
Agapidaki explained that the 43,500 beneficiaries of the obesity program will receive an SMS and an electronic referral, which will be issued automatically through IDIKA, the state e-government agency, without any action required on their part. They will then visit their doctor, who will assess their clinical condition and decide whether treatment should continue and with how many doses, up to the limit of eight.
“In November, following the recommendation of the relevant scientific committee, we will be able to provide up to eight doses to the program’s beneficiaries, who number 43,500,” she said. She explained that the number of doses will be decided on an individual basis, since some people had already started their treatment, while others had not received any doses.
“Prolamvano Continues As Normal”
The deputy minister was firm about the continuation of the overall prevention program, making clear that the temporary suspension applied only to the obesity treatment and not to Prolamvano as a whole.
“I want to be absolutely clear: Prolamvano continues as normal. SMS messages for free breast cancer screening tests have already started being sent,” she stressed. She noted that national funds have been secured for the obesity program and that further announcements will follow together with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.
She also referred to a new nationwide Opinion Poll survey published on Thursday. According to the survey, 62.9% of citizens have a positive or somewhat positive opinion of the National Health System (ESY), while 56.5% believe its services have improved over the past three years. Approval of Prolamvano is even higher, with 88.4% giving positive or somewhat positive ratings for its contribution to improving health services.
“I am not concerned with post-election alliances, I am concerned with citizens’ problems and what we are doing to address them,” Agapidaki said, stressing that despite the problems that still exist in the ESY, citizens recognize specific measures that improve their daily lives.
The discussion turned into a political clash when the deputy minister addressed PASOK MP Pavlos Christidis, who was on the panel, criticizing the main opposition party’s stance on funding Prolamvano.
She argued that PASOK had repeatedly called for the program to continue with national funds after the end of the Recovery Fund, but last July, when the government brought a relevant provision to Parliament, the party chose to vote “present.” “We brought the solution, and when the provision came to Parliament, PASOK did not vote for it,” she said, claiming that the program has “saved 500,000 lives” and stressing the need for political consensus on public health issues.
“That is the point. It is very significant that we cannot have consensus on public health issues,” Agapidaki said, expressing her disappointment at the political conflict over a program with very high public approval.
