ATHENS – Ensuring universal access to health services, for both insured and uninsured people, remains an important and standing goal for the government, Health Minister Andreas Xanthos said on Tuesday, at the opening of the 6th Panhellenic Conference of Patient Associations. He emphasised that, contrary to what was being claimed, all patients now have access to new and innovative medicines.

“This is a period when the health sector’s wounds are healing but all needs are being met with the scarce funds available and through the hard work of everyone in the sector,” the minister said. Referring to the main priorities of the ministry, he listed three: universal access for all patients, the stability of the health system and restoring ethics in the health sector.

Cases of lawlessness, wasteful spending and corruption were no longered covered up but referred to disciplinary boards, with the doctors and other officials involved suspended or even fired, he said. The minister stressed the need for structural reforms and added that it was necessary to review health expenditure.