The European Interbalkan Medical Center in Thessaloniki is providing auxiliary support and on-call cover to the National Health System (ESY)

Thessaloniki, 12 November 2020 - The Athens Medical Group is once again at the forefront to help our country, and, in particular, Northern Greece, through difficult times. After making available to the National Health System (ESY) the 50 beds for non-Covid-19 patients at the European Interbalkan Medical Center in Thessaloniki, it now takes a step further by also contributing to the National Health System’s (ESY) on-call services, in order to cover the non-Covid-19 patients that are expected to need care.

The pioneering project started today by providing support during the on-call period to the “Ippokrateio General Hospital of Thessaloniki”, whilst, tomorrow, the European Interbalkan Medical Center will be offering auxiliary support during the on-call period to the “G. PAPANIKOLAOU” General Hospital of Thessaloniki. ESY's on-call schedule in Thessaloniki will continue to be covered in line with the relevant plan and depending on the needs.

Patients arriving at the ESY’s hospitals during the on-call period will be assessed as to the urgency of their situation and will be transported by the ambulances of the National Emergency Centre (EKAB) to the European Interbalkan Medical Center in Thessaloniki.

For their admission, all patients and their escorts will be subject to the strict statutory measures and protocols for admission and treatment, including a mandatory molecular test for COVID-19.

It is the first day of implementation of the auxiliary support scheme and already the first patients were transferred from the “Ippokrateio” General Hospital of Thessaloniki. Two more patients from the University General Hospital of Thessaloniki “AHEPA” were also transported to the Intensive Care Unit by EKAB.

On the subject of the auxiliary support and on-call cover provided to the National Health System, Mr Giorgos Dadoudis, Anesthesiologist-Intensivist, Director of ICU, Director of Medical Service at the European Interbalkan Medical Centre in Thessaloniki, stated: "As you know, the Athens Medical Group has always been a leading health player. In these difficult times that Thessaloniki is experiencing, it shows, in practice, social responsibility and its solidarity with our fellow citizens. For the first time ever, we will be acting together with public hospitals on days of general on-call service. We will welcome and cover non-Covid-19 patients arriving from the “Ippokrateio” General Hospital of Thessaloniki today and from the “G. PAPANIKOLAOU” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, during the on-call period tomorrow, and we will continue to provide our assistance throughout the pandemic, to help our fellow human beings.”