Our Journey
Από την πρώτη στιγμή, ο Promitheas στάθηκε δίπλα στους ανθρώπους που το σύστημα υγείας άφηνε πίσω. Στις φυλακές, στους δρόμους, στο πεδίο. Εκεί όπου η πρόσβαση δεν είναι αυτονόητη και η φροντίδα συχνά φτάνει αργά. Μητέρες χωρίς βασική περίθαλψη, νέοι με χρόνιες ασθένειες χωρίς διάγνωση, ηλικιωμένοι αποκομμένοι από τις υπηρεσίες υγείας. Κάθε ιστορία που συναντούσαμε φώτιζε τις ανισότητες και τις μετέτρεπε σε καθαρό αίτημα για αλλαγή.
Αυτή η αλλαγή δεν επιβλήθηκε από πάνω. Γεννήθηκε από κάτω, στο πεδίο. Από τις ανάγκες που μας εμπιστεύτηκαν οι ίδιοι οι άνθρωποι. Από την επιτακτική ανάγκη για μια φωνή που θα διεκδικεί καθολική πρόσβαση στην υγεία — όχι μόνο για τους ασθενείς με ηπατικές παθήσεις, αλλά για κάθε άνθρωπο που μένει πίσω.
Το 2025, ο Promitheas ενσωματώνει αυτή τη διαδρομή στην ταυτότητά του και εξελίσσεται σε μια οργάνωση με ευρύτερη κοινωνική αποστολή. Υπερασπίζεται το δικαίωμα όλων των κοινωνικοοικονομικά ευάλωτων ανθρώπων στην υγεία. Χωρίς διακρίσεις. Χωρίς εξαιρέσεις.
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
18 JAN 2024
Acquisition of "Probe XL" tool for liver elastography in obese patients
Promitheas became the only organization in Greece equipped with the Probe XL tool for liver elastography examinations. This advanced device enables elastography screening specifically for obese patients, significantly enhancing access to specialized diagnostic services for an even broader group of beneficiaries.
FEB 2024
Completion of "I Deserve to Know Plus" program
With the completion of the “I Deserve to Know Plus” program, from February 2023 to February 2024, a total of 1,017 successful liver elastography tests were conducted for citizens living in remote and border areas of Greece, providing vital services in prevention and early diagnosis.
21 MAR 2023
Municipality of Athens awarded for Overdose program
On March 21 2023, the Municipality of Athens received an award under the Partnership for Healthy Cities (PHC) for its opioid overdose prevention program. Promitheas, in collaboration with the Hellenic Scientific Society for AIDS & Sexually Transmitted and Emerging Diseases Research, was one of the program's key implementing partners.
21 OCT 2022
Establishment of "Temporary Prisoner Healthcare Number - (P.A.Y.P.E.K)"
On October 27, 2022, the Temporary Prisoner Healthcare Number (P.A.Y.PE.K.) was established — the result of Promitheas' long-standing advocacy for equal healthcare access for incarcerated individuals. This measure allows prisoners without a Social Security Number (AMKA) or a Temporary Insurance and Healthcare Number (P.A.A.Y.P.A.) to apply for a P.A.Y.PE.K., ensuring full medical coverage during their incarceration.
4 OCT 2021
Launch of "Community Hub"
In October 2021, after months of effort by the Promitheas team, the Community Hub opened at 42–44 Favierou Street in Metaxourgeio. This multipurpose space brings together all of Prometheus' services, including counseling and guidance, free liver elastography tests as part of the “I Deserve to Know” program, and personalized referrals to relevant organizations and services, focusing on hepatitis patients and vulnerable populations affected by viral hepatitis.
13 AUG 2020
WHO feature on "Overdose prevention"
In September 2020, on the occasion of International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31), the World Health Organization published a feature on the joint actions of the Municipality of Athens, Positive Voice, and Promitheas, supported by the Partnership for Healthy Cities.
21 JUL 2020
AWARD FOR THE "STREETWORK PROJECT"
In July 2020, Promitheas received an honorary award for the "Streetwork Project" at the 2020 Patient Partnerships Awards, recognizing its contribution to engaging vulnerable populations.
21 OCT 2019
"Commit" program award
Promitheas was honored among dozens of projects in the context of the "Commit" grant program, affirming the impact and effectiveness of its actions.
30 SEP 2019
Greek Patients' Association responce to health policy bill
The Greek Patients’ Association expressed strong dissatisfaction over the state’s repeated failure to allow equal and active participation of health service users in policy discussions and decision-making processes, undermining democratic dialogue.
27 SEP 2019
Meeting at the Ministry of Health
The adoption of the National Action Plan for hepatitis C was the central topic of a working meeting between the Secretariat General of Public Health and the “Promitheas” Liver Patients Association. Urgent pending actions for eliminating hepatitis C in Greece were presented to the Secretary General.
15 JUN 2019
"Street Work Project" website launch
In June 2019, in collaboration with “Positive Voice,” Promitheas launched the website for the Street Work Project, an initiative to support vulnerable populations.
01 MAY 2019
Founding member of the Greek Patients' Association
In May 2019, Prometheus became a founding member of the Greek Patients’ Association, strengthening patient participation in national health policy.
01 FEB 2019
Harm Reduction Policies
At a session of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs of the Greek Parliament, during the discussion of a draft law from the Ministry of Health, we gave a statement on the importance of supervised drug consumption rooms (SDCRs).
01 NOV 2018
Harm Reduction Policies
We organized a summit at the European Parliament Office in Athens, with participation from relevant ministries, parliamentarians, MEPs, local authorities, scientists, harm reduction and treatment organizations, civil society, and people who use psychoactive substances.
01 SEP 2018
The benefits of vaccination
We published an article emphasizing the need for more systematic and in-depth public awareness on the benefits of vaccination – in collaboration with “Positive Voice.”
01 JUL 2018
Patient Representation
Along with 18 other national patient organizations and federations, we sent a letter to the Minister of Health expressing our dissatisfaction with the lack of patient representation on the Committee for Health Technology Assessment (HTA).
01 JUN 2018
Exclusion of elderly from care unit
Letter to the Municipality of Ilioupoli requesting immediate revision of the admission criteria of the Elderly Care Unit “Agia Tavitha,” which excluded individuals with infectious diseases – in collaboration with “Positive Voice.”
01 MAY 2018
The right to foster care or adoption
Letter to the Minister of Labour and the relevant ministries of Interior, Justice, Finance, and Health, regarding the exclusion of people living with hepatitis B or C or HIV from the right to foster or adopt children – in collaboration with the Greek Association of People Living with HIV “Positive Voice.”
01 APR 2018
Employment in public health business
We addressed the National Bioethics Committee, seeking clarification on the law and the current ambiguity surrounding employment rights of people with hepatitis B and/or C in public health-related businesses and the process for obtaining health certificates.
01 APR 2017
Hepatitis C elimination
Co-signature of a declaration on the importance of civil society’s involvement in hepatitis C elimination efforts – “Hepatitis-C Community Summit.”
10 MAR 2017
60th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
Letter to the Prime Minister regarding his participation in the 60th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND)
01 MAR 2017
Hepatitis C treatment registry
Meeting with the President of EOPYY to discuss the reactivation of the hepatitis C treatment registry.
15 FEB 2017
Intervention in injust dismissal of police officer with Hepatitis B
We supported the patient’s appeal to the Greek Ombudsman following his unfair dismissal from the Hellenic Police, seeking reversal of the decision.
01 FEB 2017
Drug price negotiation committee
Press release regarding Promitheas’ lack of formal participation in the drug price negotiation committee for hepatitis C treatments.
11 OCT 2016
Consistent demand for price negotiations
Following multiple advocacy efforts for price negotiations between the state and pharmaceutical companies for the new hepatitis C treatments, we sent a letter to the Minister of Health titled “Awaiting the negotiation.”
24 MAR 2016
Appeal to the Council of State against EOPPY and the Ministry of Health
We filed an appeal to the Council of State to revise the eligibility criteria for access to new hepatitis C treatments.
21 MAR 2016
Liver transplantation
Letter-request to the Ministry of Health for the immediate resolution of issues related to liver transplants in Greece.
13 JAN 2016
Access to new Hepatitis C treatments
Request to EOPYY for the immediate revision of eligibility criteria for access to new hepatitis C treatments.
11 JAN 2016
Greece's participation in the global strategy on viral Hepatitis
Letter to the Minister of Health requesting Greece’s participation in the global strategy to combat viral hepatitis.
15 DEC 2015
Access to new Hepatitis C treatments
Letter to the Minister of Health titled “Access to new treatments for hepatitis C patients who are currently in critical need.”
26 OCT 2015
WAITING LISTS IN OPIOID SUBSTITUTION TREATMENT PROGRAMS Waiting lists in opioid substitution treatment programs
Letter to the Ministry of Health regarding “Eliminating waiting lists and ensuring immediate enrollment in detoxification/substitution programs.”
15 OCT 2015
Barriers to access to new Hepatitis C treatments
Letter to the President of EOPYY titled “Barriers to treatment access faced by patients living with hepatitis C.”
29 SEP 2015
Decompensared Cirrhosis
Letter to the President of HASL regarding “Disability rates and classification of decompensated liver cirrhosis as a permanent disability.”
24 JUN 2015
TREATMENTS Barriers to access to new Hepatitis C treatment
Letter to the President of EOPYY titled “Barriers to treatment access for hepatitis C patients.”
10 JUN 2015
Patient representation in the drug pricing negotiation committee
Letter to the Minister of Health regarding the “Representation of chronic disease patient associations in the drug pricing negotiation committee of EOPYY.”
15 OCT 2014
Hepatitis C and drug use
We co-signed the declaration issued by the “European Initiative on Hepatitis C and Drug Use,” advocating access to prevention, testing, and treatment for people who use drugs and live with hepatitis C.
01 OCT 2014
Access to new Hepatitis C treatments
Letter to the Minister of Health, the President and Vice President of the National Organization for Medicines, the President of EOPYY, and the President of the Drug Pricing Committee, regarding patient access to new treatments for viral hepatitis C.
01 JUL 2014
Access to new Hepatitis C treatments
Appeal to the Health Ministers of EU Member States and to the General Managers of Abbvie, BMS, Gilead, Janssen, and Merck/MSD regarding global access to hepatitis C treatment across and beyond Europe.
01 MAY 2014
Emergency import of Hepatitis C drug
Advocacy letter to the President of the National Organization for Medicines, requesting emergency importation of medication for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C.
01 FEB 2014
Access to diagnostic tests
Letter to the Director of the Directorate for Evaluation and Quality Assurance regarding the pricing and insurance coverage of molecular biology diagnostic tests (HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA).
01 DEC 2013
Disability ratings - Wilson's disease
Letter to the President of the Hellenic Association for the Study of the Liver (HASL) regarding the evaluation of disability rates for individuals with Wilson’s disease.
01 OCT 2013
Prevention of Hepatitis B and C
Letter to the Minister of Health regarding the inclusion of hepatitis B and C prevention and awareness as a sub-theme in the Greek EU Presidency program, under the framework of Migration and Public Health actions.
01 JUL 2013
Access to Hepatitis C treatment
Letter to the Minister of Health, the Director of the Pharmaceutical Department of EOPYY, the President of EOPYY, and the High-Cost and Foreign Drug Committee of Athens, regarding the unjustified discontinuation of treatment for Hepatitis C patients.
15 FEB 2013
Need for a national action plan and access to healthcare services
Letter to the Director of the National Center for Public Health regarding the pricing and insurance coverage of molecular biology diagnostic tests (HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA), access to treatment for the poor and uninsured, and the need for a national health plan aimed at prevention, treatment, and control
01 FEB 2013
Access to diagnostic tests
Letter to the Central Health Council regarding the pricing and insurance coverage of molecular biology diagnostic tests (HBV-DNA and HCV-DNA).