In January 2014, as a result of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s extensive support under the €100 million initiative against the socioeconomic crisis, the Olympic Village Polyclinic launched two state-of-the-art Mobile Medical Units, as part of the National Primary Healthcare Program. The Program offers the residents of remote islands in Greece the opportunity to receive comprehensive, high quality, medical care and support, as well as preventive care services completely free of charge, by volunteer doctors of all specialties and qualified scientific personnel. The two Mobile Medical Units (pictured) offer the general public access to a number of specialists. In addition, the Units have the technical capability to allow for special procedures, as they are both equipped with a digital mammography unit, a portable X-ray machine, and a bone density scanner. In addition, the teams have made numerous educational presentations to thousands of citizens and students, on issues such as healthy nutrition, smoking, early diagnosis of learning disabilities, sex education, career counseling and first aid training.

All the doctors and scientific personnel participating in the program are volunteers, an important gesture in a country under severe socioeconomic strain. Their efforts are representative of some of the reasons Greece has been able to maintain its social cohesion under such extraordinary circumstances.

In charge of the Program’s design and implementation is Dr. Panagiotis Koulouvaris, Head Lecturer at the University Orthopaedic Clinic and Scientific Coordinator of the Olympic Village Polyclinic Orthopaedic Department. Following the successful implementation of the National Primary Healthcare Program, the SNF invited Dr. Koulouvaris to join the Foundation, as an Advisor to the Board of Directors.

Andreas C. Dracopoulos, Co-President of the Board of Directors of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, stated: “We are extremely pleased with the implementation and progress of this most important and innovative initiative. The program is increasingly vital during this period of severe socioeconomic crisis, which has had a negative impact of critical consequences upon Greece’s health sector and services. Providing comprehensive and basic health services for the public, and educating people about their health is a fundamental right, integral to people’s fortitude, productivity, and prosperity, as well as to their community and country.”