In July 2024, the Greek parliament passed legislation (Law 5129/2024 for the “Completion of the psychiatric reform”) to reform the structure and governance of Greece’s mental health institutions, therapy centres and drug and alcohol rehabilitation programmes.
The three main changes introduced are:
- The establishment of a legal entity, the National Network of Mental Health Services, which attempts to unify into a single network all the mental health units of the National Health System (NHS) and private psychiatric clinics, together with NGOs. The National Network is structured into Regional Networks of Mental Health Services, operating in the Directorates of Health Regions and managed by the Deputy Governor of the relevant Health Region.
- The establishment of a non-profit legal entity of private law under the name “National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions”, to which all the organizations, units and addiction programmes in the country will belong. The National Organization will have its headquarters in Athens.
- The establishment of a Register of Mental Health Units of legal entities under private law.
Further
information is available from the Policy Update “New legislation for
the reform of psychiatric services in Greece proves to be controversial”
(September 6, 2024)