Opening Access to Health and Medicines for All

Opening Access to Health and Medicines for All

The project “Opening Access to Health and Medicines for All»  is being implemented under the Active citizens fund in Greece by Doctors of the World – Greek Delegation (project promoter) and its partners GIVMED and the Press Project (TPP).

Effects of the current economic crisis include the shrinking of the National Health System (NSI) and the drastic reduction of citizens’ median income thus rendering access to health care problematic.   In this context, the aim of the project is to advocate for the access of all citizens and especially the most vulnerable (e.g. elderly, refugees, unemployed, chronic and psychiatric patients) to quality free health services and appropriate medication.

Objectives include highlighting practical issues that make it difficult for citizens to have unhindered access to healthcare, evaluating the pertinent legal framework and formulating policy proposals.   We will strive to achieve these objectives with the development of the following actions:

Collection of patient testimonials on the difficulty of accessing medical and diagnostic examinations and conducting research

Study of the legal framework and qualitative research on drug donation – social pharmacies in Greece and abroad

Investigative Journalism – Supervision of the current health-medicine system

Proposal to streamline national policy on the basis of testimony, study, research

Advocacy via an information campaign for enhancing vulnerable citizens’ voice – dissemination in the media

The Co-operation between Doctors of the World, GIVMED and TPP through planned actions contributing to the highlighting of problems in access to health care, the relevant legal framework and the advocacy actions are expected to support the universal human right to health.

«The Active citizens fund in Greece is supported through a € 12m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The program aims to develop the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector in Greece, and to strengthen its role in promoting and safeguarding democratic procedures, active citizenship and human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with Solidarity Now.”