“Opening Access to Health and Medicines for All”

The project “Opening Access to Health and Medicines for All» is being implemented under the Active citizens fund in Greece by Doctors of the World – Greek Delegation (project promoter) and its partners GIVMED and the Press Project (TPP). The project is of two years duration starting on March 2020.

Effects of the current economic crisis include the shrinking of the National Health System (NSI) and the drastic reduction of citizens’ median income thus rendering access to health care problematic. In this context, the aim of the project is to advocate for the access of all citizens and especially the most vulnerable (e.g. elderly, refugees, unemployed, chronic and psychiatric patients) to quality free health services and appropriate medication.

Objectives include highlighting practical issues that make it difficult for citizens to have unhindered access to healthcare, evaluating the pertinent legal framework and formulating policy proposals. We will strive to achieve these objectives with the development of the following actions:

Collection of patient testimonials on the difficulty of accessing medical and diagnostic examinations and conducting research

Study of the legal framework and qualitative research on drug donation – social pharmacies in Greece and abroad

Investigative Journalism – Supervision of the current health-medicine system

Proposal to streamline national policy on the basis of testimony, study, research

Advocacy via an information campaign for enhancing vulnerable citizens’ voice – dissemination in the media

The Co-operation between Doctors of the World, GIVMED and TPP through planned actions contributing to the highlighting of problems in access to health care, the relevant legal framework and the advocacy actions are expected to support the universal human right to health.

«The Active citizens fund in Greece is supported through a € 12m grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as part of the EEA Grants 2014 – 2021. The program aims to develop the sustainability and capacity of the civil society sector in Greece, and to strengthen its role in promoting and safeguarding democratic procedures, active citizenship and human rights. The Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with Solidarity Now.”
For more information: www.activecitizensfund.gr

About the EEA Grants:

Τhe EEA Grants are jointly financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA Grants are available to the 13 EU member countries that joined the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2004, 2007 and 2013 as well as Greece and Portugal. The decision-making body of the EEA Grants is the Financial Mechanism Committee, which is composed of representatives of the Foreign Ministries of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Τhe Fund Operator for the Active citizens fund programme in Greece is Bodossaki Foundation in consortium with SolidarityNow.
More Information ( www.eeagrants.org / www.norwaygrants.org)

About Bodossaki:

The Bodossaki Foundation is one of the most respected privately-owned public benefit organizations in Greece. The Foundation is the culminating point of its founder’s brilliant course in life and remains the carrying vessel of the values and ideas that he faithfully served throughout his eventful life.
The Foundation was established in 1972 by Prodromos – Bodossakis Athanassiades who decided to donate his entire fortune to support health care, equal opportunities, quality in education, scientific progress and environmental protection.
The Foundation has a deep knowledge of social needs in Greece and has administered so far more than € 450m supporting its causes.
The Bodossaki Foundation also supports NGOs working with socially vulnerable groups and has lately set the strengthening of civil society as one of its primary objectives. Since 2013 it administers the regranting facilities of the EEA Grants for civil society in Greece.
Read More: https://www.bodossaki.gr/en/

About SolidarityNow:

SolidarityNow (SN) is a non-governmental organization established in 2013 to respond to the needs, and advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups, indiscriminately. SN’s Headquarters are in Athens, with large operations in Thessaloniki and activities across the country. The organization’s vision is to improve people’s lives and to empower them to create a just and inclusive society. SN’s actions fall under three main strategic priorities: a) Promoting safety and protection; b) Catalyzing livelihoods opportunities; c) Strengthening the independence of civil society and defending open society values. SN has supported 300,000 people to date, both through direct project implementation and through regranting programmes. Through its regranting initiatives, SN has supported 73 different programs and provided a total funding of € 14.4M to support Greek civil society organizations.
Read More: https://www.solidaritynow.org/en/