The news in Greek

Ο ΕΟΠΥΥ έχει ένα νέο σύστημα ηλεκτρονικού εισιτηρίου για τα φαρμακεία. Με το σύστημα αυτό, οι ασθενείς παίρνουν ηλεκτρονικά έναν αριθμό προτεραιότητας και δεν χρειάζεται να περιμένουν στη σειρά από πριν. Το σύστημα δείχνει διαθέσιμα φαρμακεία και τον χρόνο αναμονής . Έτσι, οι ασθενείς μπορούν να οργανώσουν καλύτερα τις επισκέψεις τους.

Translation

The National Organisation for Healthcare Provision has introduced a new electronic ticket system for pharmacies. With this system, patients receive an electronic priority number, eliminating the need to queue in advance. The system displays available pharmacies and estimated waiting times, allowing patients to better organise their visits.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What does the new e-ticketing system allow patients to receive electronically?

It allows patients to receive an electronic priority number.

Question 2: How does the new system help patients with their pharmacy visits?

It helps patients by showing available pharmacies and wait times, so they can better organize their visits.

Exercise: Vocabulary

(n.) - system

(m.) - patient

(f.) - priority

(f.) - waiting

- organise

(f.) - visit

Read the full story

▌25/01/2025

The Greek National Organization for the Provision of Health Services, known as EOPYY, has introduced a novel e-ticketing system aimed at streamlining the experience for users accessing its pharmacy services. This initiative is considered a leap forward in enhancing service accessibility and reducing waiting times for patients collecting medications.

The new service allows patients to obtain an electronic priority number before visiting an EOPYY pharmacy. This system, accessible via eticket.eopyy.gov.gr, negates the need for patients to queue early to get a paper ticket on-site, significantly cutting down wait times.

According to the Greek Health Minister, Adonis Georgiadis, the e-ticketing platform does not require login credentials and offers several features to enhance user experience. Patients can search online for pharmacies supplying their specific medications, view these locations on a map, and see which items are available at each site.

This system provides real-time information on the number of tickets currently being processed and the estimated waiting time at each pharmacy, assisting patients in planning their visits more effectively. After selecting the desired pharmacy, patients can generate an e-ticket, available in PDF format, which can be printed or stored digitally.

New E-Ticketing for Greece's EOPYY Pharmacies Launched New E-Ticketing for Greece's EOPYY Pharmacies Launched (Illustration)

The platform also includes a real-time tracking feature enabling users to monitor their queue position through a unique code provided with the e-ticket. A mobile-friendly version of the application is also in development, promising even greater accessibility.

The implementation of this service comes amid renewed public attention to the operational challenges faced by EOPYY pharmacies. Recently, an incident at the Alexandria Avenue pharmacy in Athens highlighted the need for reform when unexpected pharmacist absences left patients waiting outside with prescriptions in hand. This incident prompted a swift response from Minister Georgiadis, who personally intervened by arranging temporary staff from EOPYY's headquarters.

In response, further measures to alleviate congestion in EOPYY pharmacies have been proposed, including allowing private pharmacies to distribute high-cost medications needed for conditions such as cancer, facilitating easier access for patients with serious or rare diseases.

This initiative reflects a broader trend towards digital transformation in public health services, with electronic systems playing a crucial role in improving efficiency and patient experience across Greece.

Info: "Greek Learner News" is a service from "Let's Learn Greek," a language school dedicated to teaching Greek. We offer a variety of online courses for those interested in Greek language learning.

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