Greece to launch free preventive health screenings in September

The Greek Ministry of Health is launching a new phase of the ‘PROLAMBANO’ National Prevention Program starting in September. The initiative aims to provide free screenings for approximately 6.2 million unique individuals through December 2026. Digital referrals will be issued to about 5.3 million citizens via SMS.

The program focuses on four primary health areas: cardiovascular diseases and three major types of cancer, specifically breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer. Funding for the program has been secured through 2030, with 300 million euros allocated from national resources to ensure a stable and free preventive healthcare system.

Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidakis stated that the program seeks to shift the national healthcare focus from treating diseases to preventing them. Previous phases of the program have already facilitated 6.86 million preventive examinations, resulting in the early detection of findings in 274,410 individuals.