Filenews 28 June 2024
A special tab on the website of the General Health System was created by the Health Insurance Organization in order to inform citizens about all cases of health service providers who are penalized or have their contract suspended for the purpose of investigating complaints or are expelled from the System because it is found that they are guilty or there is reason to abuse or deceive the Organization.
Each post will include a description of the provider's status (if it is a hospital, pharmacy, clinical laboratory, etc.) and in the case of doctors, their specialty will be mentioned. However, the names of individuals or legal entities will not be made public, as this could violate the law on personal data protection.
In any case, reference will be made to the type of misconduct committed by the provider and other details as to why the HIO proceeded either to suspend a contract, impose a fine or expel him from the GHS.
As the Director General of the HIO, Andreas Papaconstantinou, told "F", "this action serves the principle of transparency as well as the continuous communication of the Organization with the public. It is not uncommon for us to be asked how many providers we have expelled or suspended their contracts. We want to implement a policy of extroversion where the work done in the Organization is communicated, to the extent possible, to the outside world. In this way, the whole work produced is judged more objectively."
Papaconstantinou also said that "we expect this action to act as a deterrent to reduce unacceptable behaviours on the part of providers. It is a wake-up call for those who intend to abuse the System, given that the penalties imposed are not insignificant." He noted that "although the tab is currently empty, it will start to be fed from now on so that essentially a registry can be created."
He also clarified that "this action is part of the overall effort to upgrade the Organization's website. In a few months, as Mr. Papaconstantinou mentioned, "there will be a total upgrade of the website, in terms of its design as well as its content."
