A Cooperation Agreement for the promotion of Health and Wellness Tourism in Greece was signed between the Greek Health Tourism Council – ELITOUR, the Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) of CERTH, and the HYGIEIA Research and Educational Cluster of CERTH/INAB.
The goals of this strategic partnership, as outlined in the Cooperation Agreement, include the development of new innovation strategies in the health sector through the application of new technologies and the adoption of high-quality standards, the establishment of specialized educational programs aimed at providing high-level training to meet modern international health sector demands, the advancement of international collaborations and the promotion of Greece as a premier destination for Health and Wellness Tourism. Additionally, the agreement emphasizes conducting studies on areas of mutual interest, drafting reports, and collecting and analyzing statistical data related to Medical Tourism in Greece, with a particular focus on its impact on the country’s tourism product and national economy.
The President of the Greek Health Tourism Council – ELITOUR and President of the Athens Medical Association, Dr. George Patoulis, characterized the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation as a valuable partnership with significant developmental potential, promising a dynamic future for the growth of Greek Health and Wellness Tourism. He emphasized that Greece’s comparative advantages—including its highly skilled medical professionals, modern infrastructure, mild climate, and rich cultural heritage—make it an ideal destination for health and wellness services.
Dr. Patoulis highlighted ELITOUR’s long-standing efforts to promote Greece internationally, enhance the sector’s extroversion, and establish strong collaborations. He noted that this cooperation agreement lays the foundation for the joint creation of innovative health and prevention programs, the development of educational and scientific initiatives, the exchange of expertise, and the execution of studies in the field of Medical Tourism.
The growth of health tourism, according to Dr. Patoulis, is not only relevant to stakeholders and business operators in the sector but also serves as a catalyst for the overall strengthening of the Greek economy and the sustainable development of the country.
The Director of the Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) of CERTH, Ms. Anastasia Chatzidimitriou, referred to the socially oriented activities of the institute, highlighting INAB’s leadership role as the sole Institute of Biosciences in Northern Greece and the only one dedicated to Applied Biosciences nationwide. With a rich portfolio of projects and strategic collaborations—including partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry—INAB oversees the design and implementation of multicenter international clinical studies and represents Greece in the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN-ERIC). Ms. Chatzidimitriou emphasized that “the agreement signed today is part of the institute’s ongoing strategy to strengthen clinical research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international outreach.”
Dr. Pantelis Natsiavas, a researcher at INAB specializing in Digital Health, presented the pan-European initiative for clinical data standardization, already adopted by the European Medicines Agency. He stated, “Leveraging its expertise in clinical data management, INAB has undertaken the role of national hub for this pan-European initiative, EDHEN, in Greece.”
Dr. Elena Lazaridi, Manager of the HYGIEIA Research and Educational Cluster of CERTH/INAB, noted that “today we are signing an agreement that reflects the vision and passion of all involved parties to highlight the true meaning of Health without limits, borders, or distinctions. Through medical knowledge, we extend a warm embrace to all those who wish to contribute, as well as to those in need. The excellent practices of our organization in education and research, our longstanding collaboration with top physicians and researchers, and our perpetual strides towards extroversion make us proud of partnerships like this, which bring our country one step closer to its brighter side.”
The signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement was attended by the Secretary General of ELITOUR, Ms. V. Delichristou, the Administrative Director of ELITOUR, Mr. P. Andreadis, the Executive Director of the HYGIEIA Research and Educational Cluster of CERTH/INAB, Mr. M. Velanis, and the Scientific Advisor of the HYGIEIA Research and Educational Cluster of CERTH/INAB, Dr. Angeliki Margariti Andrews.
