National Strategy for Quality of Care and Patient Safety for Greece 2025-2030 (31 January 2025)

Summary

This document provides a framework for improving health care outcomes, patient safety and public trust in Greece. The Strategy includes 11 objectives and 47 prioritised actions, which are designed for phased, stepwise implementation. These actions focus on improving patient safety, governance, clinical guidelines and health literacy across all levels of the health care system.

Content

The vision of the Strategy is to build a health care system where quality is a daily commitment, ensuring that all individuals trust that health care will be safe, respectful, equitable and efficient.

The Strategy aims to achieve the following key objectives:

• To nurture an efficient, accountable and data-driven health system: strong leadership and governance are essential for ensuring operational efficiency and evidence-based decision-making. Effective governance structures set clear policies, enforce accountability and ensure transparent oversight. By systematically collecting and analysing data, the country can continuously improve health care performance and decision-making. This approach fosters a culture of accountability and enables timely, informed responses to health care challenges.
• To foster trust in an effective and safe health system: building public trust requires a focus on patient safety, clinical outcomes and the reliability of health care services. Evidence-based practices, integrated with innovative solutions, are key to enhancing safety, accessibility and overall patient outcomes. This will help to ensure that the health care system operates reliably, fairly, and efficiently, increasing trust among patients, health care workers and the wider public.
• To create patient partnerships in health care provision: empowering patients to take an active role in managing their own health care is essential for developing a high-performing and cost-effective health care system. This approach leads to better resource allocation, enhanced satisfaction for both patients and providers, greater utilization of preventive services and improved health outcomes. Patients must understand their health conditions, treatment options and care processes if they are to make informed decisions. Health literacy, especially digital health literacy, equips individuals to engage effectively with health care providers. The Strategy aims to ensure that patients, families and providers collaborate to personalize care, respecting individual values and preferences and thereby improving the overall quality of care.

The Strategy is structured using three strategic directions.

1. Leadership and governance: this direction focuses on building a strong foundation for the health system through effective leadership, transparent governance and the integration of evidence-based practices. When the system operates efficiently and responsibly, it can better address the needs of the population.
2. Evidence and innovation: this direction emphasizes the importance of continuous innovation and the integration of evidence-based practices and focuses on improving safety, effectiveness and equity in health care. By embracing new technologies and approaches, the country can enhance the reliability of its health system.
3. Literacy and engagement: this direction emphasizes patient empowerment through improved health literacy and engagement of patients in care decisions. Ensuring that patients are well informed and fully involved in their care leads to better outcomes and strengthens the patient–provider relationship.