The lecture by Dr. Ioannis Spiliotis, organized by the Athens Medical Group, was successfully conducted at the Athenian Club under the theme: “Health Diplomacy in the Context of Geopolitical Developments.”
During his address, Dr. G. Patoulis congratulated the CEO of the Athens Medical Group and Honorary Consul of Monaco, Dr. Vasilis Apostolopoulos, for his significant contributions to advancing the extroversion of Greek healthcare and fostering connections among science, entrepreneurship, and diplomacy. He further emphasized the importance of health diplomacy as a fundamental pillar of international collaboration, highlighting its role in safeguarding public health and promoting peace and stability among nations.
Dr. Patoulis stated, among other things, that:
“We live in an era where health security is not solely about protecting our citizens but also influences geopolitical balances. From the pandemic to health crises linked to climate change and population migrations, we observe that health has become a matter of international cooperation.”
Additionally, he noted that Greece, leveraging its high-level scientific potential and strategic geopolitical position, can play a pivotal role in creating a framework of international cooperation that ensures health security and strengthens solidarity among nations. Central to this effort is the medical community, which leads initiatives to promote scientific collaboration and exchange best practices with international organizations.
The Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, during his address, praised the significant work of ELITOUR in promoting medical tourism, underscoring its critical role in health diplomacy among nations. He also referred to the recent significant visit of the President of ISA and ELITOUR, Mr. Patoulis, to Ethiopia and the graduation ceremony of outstanding medical students held at the medical school of Addis Ababa University.
Additionally, greetings were delivered by former European Commissioner, Minister, and Member of Parliament for Ilia, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos. The event was attended, among others, by former member of the Greek royal family Mr. Pavlos de Grecia, New Democracy MP Mr. Ioannis Pappas, SYRIZA MP Ms. Nina Kasimati, the President of the Athenian Club Mr. Kyriakos Koukoulomatis, numerous academics, and members of the medical community.
