Sixth Annual Greece Cancer Summit

PRESS RELEASE
An ECONOMIST IMPACT Event
Sixth annual Greece Cancer Summit
Fighting cancer in disrupted times
April 22nd 2026 Ÿ Grand Hyatt Athens
www.6thcancersummit.economist.com

The latest developments in the fight against cancer in Greece and the EU in a period of global uncertainty will be discussed at the Economist’s forthcoming Sixth annual Greece Cancer Summit which will take place on April 22nd 2026 in Athens (Grand Hyatt Athens) and online (YouTube - Economist Impact SE Europe Events and www.hazliseconomist.com). The conference is being held under the scientific auspices of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO) and the auspices of the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK).

Exceptional speakers from Greece and abroad will focus –among others– on key issues related to the current status of cancer policies in Greece and the EU, prevention and green oncology, the progress of oncological research, inequalities in cancer care, the contribution of digital solutions and the new needs and challenges related to the optimisation of cancer patients’ outcomes. The conference will be chaired by Alasdair Ross, countries editor of The Economist’s “The World Ahead 2026”.

Confirmed speakers:
Adonis Georgiadis, minister of health, Government of Greece
Eirini Agapidaki, alternate minister of health, Government of Greece
Marios Themistocleous, deputy minister of health, Government of Greece
Evi Dramalioti, secretary-general of co-ordination, Presidency of the Greek Government
Aris Angelis, secretary general for strategic planning, Ministry of Health, Greece
Lilian-Venetia Vildiridi, secretary-general for health services, Ministry of Health, Greece
Sofia Agelaki, medical oncologist, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete; professor of medical oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete
Kostas Athanasakis, associate professor of health economics, University of West Attica
Aristotelis Bamias, professor of Internal Medicine-Oncology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,
vice-president of HeSMO
Anastasios Boutis, medical oncologist and director, Theagenio Anticancer Hospital of Thessaloniki
João Breda, head, WHO Athens Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety, special representative of the regional director
and officer in charge, WHO Greece
Dimitrios Daravigkas, radiologist, country medical director, Affidea Greece
Meletios Athanasios (Thanos) Dimopoulos, professor and chairman, Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Sarantos Efstathopoulos, governor, “Metaxa” Anticancer Hospital of Piraeus
Athanasia Giannopoulou, head of quality control, research and continuing education, “Saint Savvas” General Anticancer Oncology Hospital of Athens
Vasiliki-Konstantina Gkogkozotou, non-executive president, EOPYY; president, Drug Price Negotiation Committee
Nikos Iosif, president, Human Health Intelligence Organisation; chief executive, Brains I.C.S.
Agata Jakoncic, managing director for Greece, Cyprus, Malta, MSD
George Kapetanakis, president, Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK)
Antonis Kattamis, head, division of pediatric hematology-oncology, first department of pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital
Eleni Kourea, professor of pathology, Medical School, University of Patras
Thalia Lalla, medical oncologist, 3rd Department of Medical Oncology, Theagenion Cancer Hospital
Dimitra Lingri, barrister; legal counsellor of the Greek HTA Committee and the Committee for the high-cost pharmaceuticals, Legal Service Department of EKAPY
Michalis Liontos, associate professor of therapeutics-oncology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; secretary general, Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO)
Konstantinos Michalitsis, head of Secondary Health Care Systems Division, IDIKA
Paraskevi Michalopoulou, president, Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer “Alma Zois”; vice-president, Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK)
Michail Nikolaou, medical oncologist, “Saint Savvas” General Anticancer Oncology Hospital of Athens
Agatha Peptea, president, Happiness In A Cup Foundation
Amanda Psyrri, professor of medical oncology, National Kapodistrian University of Athens; chairman of internal medicine, Attikon University Hospital (recorded message)
Ugne Sabale, director outcomes research for the Mid Europe region, MSD
Emmanouil Saloustros, associate professor of medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly; president of the BoD, Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO)
Anastasios Samouilidis, government affairs director, Greek Patients’ Association
Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, director and chairman, National Hellenic Research Foundation 
Nektarios Tavernarakis, professor of molecular systems biology, Medical School, University of Crete
Eleftherios Thireos, head of general directorate, National Agency for Quality Assurance in Health; president, Athens Medical Society
Eleni Timotheadou, associate professor of medicine and oncology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Nikolaos Tsoukalas, medical oncologist; director, oncology Department, Veterans Hospital 417 NIMTS; special secretary, HeSMO
Maria Tzima, member of the BoD, Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK)

Detailed conference agenda:
https://hazliseconomist.com/en/event/sixth_annual_ancer_summit/agenda

Online: YouTube: Economist Impact SE Europe Events / www.hazliseconomist.com  

Supported by MSD
Supporting organisations: Gastrointestinal Cancer Study Group (GIC-SG), Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HeCOG), Hellenic Group of Sarcomas & Rare Cancers (HGSRC), Women for Oncology (W4O-Hellas)
Premium Bronze sponsor: Brains I.C.S.
Bronze sponsor: Affidea
Academic partner: Alba Graduate Business School-The American College of Greece
Telecommunications provider: NOVA, Logistics supplier: DHL
Communication sponsors: Apogevmatini, Apogevmatini Sunday Edition
Online communication sponsor: Powergame.gr
Communication supporters: parapolitika.gr, Athens-Macedonian News Agency
Supporters: Gloa, Hanikian Law Firm, Artecniko, FCA Hygiene Biosecurity Solutions, CAFFÈ L'ANTICO
Digital agency: Adpixel