Teledentistry Care for the Residents of Oinousses – Visit of the Deputy Minister of Health to “Tzaneio” General Hospital
Teledentistry Care for the Residents of Oinousses – Visit of the Deputy Minister of Health to “Tzaneio” General Hospital
The Deputy Minister of Health, Irene Agapidaki, visited the “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus today, Friday, April 5, where she was welcomed by the Governor of the 2nd Health Region (YPE), Christos Roilos, the hospital’s Governor, Ilias Gouzouasis, and the Deputy Governor, Stelios Geronymakis.
The Deputy Minister closely observed the second phase of dental examinations conducted via telemedicine for the residents of Oinousses, and had the opportunity to speak with the island’s Mayor, Mr. Georgios Daniil, as well as local residents. Ms. Agapidaki referred to the upcoming steps for upgrading Primary Healthcare (PHC), emphasizing that “in the next two years, we will have achieved a drastic reduction in social inequalities in healthcare, so that all citizens can experience a tangible improvement in accessibility to health services.”
Following this, a dentist from the “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus examined residents of Oinousses via telemedicine. In essence, an initial identification/diagnosis of teeth and gum diseases, as well as oral mucosa lesions, was performed, subsequently updating each patient’s electronic health record.
In an effort to reduce healthcare inequality, the 2nd Health Region, in collaboration with the “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus, organized this specific teledentistry initiative for the residents of Oinousses—a remote border island of our country where residents face difficulties accessing dental care.
In fact, during the first phase (04/01), it was already found that 90% of the cases examined require dental intervention. The ultimate goal, following the completion of the dental check-ups for the residents, is an in-person dental intervention through a visit by a team from the dental department of Tzaneio Hospital.
Greece is characterized by intense geographical diversity with a vast complex of islands, which is why the development of telematics technology systems will significantly bridge the inequalities between the country’s regions.
Telemedicine is a valuable tool in the hands of doctors and health agencies. In this direction, Greece is implementing the National Telemedicine Network (EDIT), a project funded by the Recovery and Resilience Fund with a total budget of approximately 30 million euros. The Ministry of Health is expanding the telemedicine project to cover every inch of the country, including our islands, mountainous, and rural areas.
The Deputy Minister of Health, Irene Agapidaki, stated:
“Today, I visited the ‘Tzaneio’ General Hospital of Piraeus and closely watched the second phase of dental examinations via telemedicine for the residents of Oinousses. We saw firsthand how telemedicine can bring real change to people’s lives, especially in areas that face difficulties in accessing healthcare. The expansion of the National Telemedicine Network by the Ministry of Health reflects our commitment to the holistic upgrade of Primary Healthcare and the improvement of access to health services across the entire country. We can create a better future for the health of all our citizens, and that is what we are working towards every day.”