ATHENS — "The national health system stood up to the circumstances as it is made to serve people and their needs and especially those in need," Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias said on Tuesday during the conference on "The Health System in COVID -19 and in the post-COVID-19 era" organized by the newspaper "Proto Thema" and the medical website "ygeiamou.gr."

"The national health system endured with 10,000 health workers who were added to the system during these months. We built new ICUs with staff, equipment and cooperation with the private sector when again some people were betting that we would not succeed. A culture of cooperation has been created, which gives the possibility of creating a new health map in the country," Kikilias underlined.

Some questioned whether we could properly organize vaccinations in the country, he said, adding: "We started with 50 vaccinations a day, there was doubt even about whether the vaccines would come. Obviously everything was done, we managed to vaccinate over 100,000 of our fellow citizens every day in an excellent way. It is an example to be imitated."

"The first step is public health. The second step is the reform in primary health care. The health map needs to be reorganized, there are tools from the recovery fund and the NSRF," the health minister stated.