Μake us preferred on Google Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said on Tuesday, that allegations involving Giorgos Patoulis, president of the Athens Medical Association, will be referred to the National Transparency Authority as part of an ongoing investigation into the death of popular singer Giorgos Mazonakis earlier this month.
Georgiadis stressed that the referral should not be interpreted as a question of Patoulis’ integrity, saying that “we are all subject to scrutiny.”
On his part, Patoulis said in a statement that he endorsed the minister’s decision as it was the “correct institutional course of action”.
“I personally requested a comprehensive investigation by the competent authorities to establish the facts, put an end to the spread of false information, and address the attacks against me. As President of the Athens Medical Association, I have full confidence in the institutions and will assist their work in every way possible so that the truth may come to light,” he added.
New Committee to Oversee Wellness Sector
The minister also announced the creation of a special committee to review Greece’s regulatory framework for wellness services. The committee will be headed by Lilian-Venetia Vildiridi, Secretary General for Health Services.
Georgiadis said the aim was not to exclude regenerative medicine or wellness centers from the Greek market, but to establish clearer rules governing their operation.
He said the need for greater oversight had become increasingly important as services spanning medicine, aesthetics, anti-aging and wellness have expanded, creating areas where the distinction between medical procedures and wellness services is not always clearly defined.
MedWatch flags hundreds of cases
During Tuesday’s press conference, Georgiadis also presented initial findings from the ministry’s new MedWatch platform, an AI-powered system designed to monitor medical practices, doctors’ social media activity, and advertisements for medical services. The platform, launched 10 days ago in Athens, Piraeus, and Thessaloniki, cross-checks advertised services against information on whether providers are authorized to offer them, the settings in which they operate, and the conditions under which services may be provided.
According to Georgiadis, online advertisements for medical procedures have fallen by 91% since the platform was introduced, which he said indicated a significant change in market behavior. He also said the number of “red flag” findings was declining as inspections increased and businesses and professionals took steps toward compliance with the existing regulatory framework.
Among the findings cited by the ministry were 119 cases involving dental practices offering services including hyaluronic acid treatments, mesotherapy and Botox. The ministry has expanded MedWatch to cover dental practices, giving Dental Associations access to the platform. Physiotherapy clinics are also being added to the facilities subject to inspection.
The platform also identified 231 cases involving stem-cell treatments being offered at doctors’ offices, clinics, and aesthetic centers. In addition, MedWatch flagged 911 cases of online content referring to Botox, Dysport, and other injectable treatments, including weight-loss therapies, which the minister said are subject to advertising restrictions.
A further 468 “red-flag” cases involved non-physicians appearing to advertise medical procedures. The platform also identified five businesses operating without the required license, three of them physiotherapy centers.
The ministry said the findings will be forwarded to the relevant Medical Associations for investigation, as well as to the National Transparency Authority.
