Fifth annual Greece Cancer Summit 

Joan Hoey, editor of the Democracy Index and Europe consultant, Economist Intelligence

Joan Hoey Europe Consultant

This panel will discuss the strategy and action framework for Greece's NCP, highlighting the priorities and objectives. It will also assess whether the targets regarding the fight against cancer were met last year and what is expected from 2025. It will also consider the reaction of doctors and the pharmaceutical industry to the plan.

Adonis Georgiadis, minister of health, Greece
Zenia Saridaki-Zoras, medical oncologist and president of the board, Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO)
George Kapetanakis, president, Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK) 
Cyril Schiever, president of mid-Europe Region, MSD

Adonis Georgiadis Minister of health

George Kapetanakis President

Cyril Schiever President of mid-Europe Region

NCPs are critical components of the EU’s cancer policy. This panel will look at what these plans contain and which EU countries have implemented the most successful examples. What are the scientific priorities of Greece’s plan and does it meet the demands of patients and doctors? How should the EU hold member states accountable for implementing their plans? Can monitoring tools, such as dashboards, help countries to assess progress towards their targets?

Tit Albreht, president, European Public Health Association
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
Thomas Hofmarcher, health economist, Swedish Institute of Health Economics
Panos Kanavos, associate professor of international health policy, London School of Economics and Political Science
Nikolaos Tsoukalas, director, oncology dept., Veterans Hospital 417 NIMTS and general secretary of the board, HeSMO (via connection)
George Kapetanakis, president, ELLOK 

Tit Albreht President

João Breda Head, WHO Athens Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety, special representative of the regional director and officer in charge

Thomas Hofmarcher Health economist

Panos Kanavos Associate professor of international health policy, deputy director at LSE Health

Nikolaos Tsoukalas Director, oncology dept., Veterans Hospital 417 NIMTS, General secretary of the board

George Kapetanakis President

In cancer, prevention is better (and cheaper) than cure. Screening, education and government policy all play a role in reducing the number of individuals who get cancer in the first place. But many governments struggle to provide such services equally throughout society. This panel will look at the effectiveness of Greece’s cancer prevention policies and early detection screening programmes. It will also ask how screening programmes can be made more equitable. It will also investigate what impact vaccination has had in preventing cervical cancer.

Konstantinos Syrigos, professor of medicine and oncology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; chairman of the board, Hellenic Association of Lung Cancer 
Theodoros Agorastos, professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; president, Hellenic HPV Society (via connection)
Amanda Psyrri, professor of medical oncology, National Kapodistrian University of Athens; chairman of internal medicine, Attikon University Hospital (recorded message)
Nikos Iosif, president, Human Health Intelligence Organization, chief executive, Brains I.C.S.

Commentator
Emmanouil Saloustros, associate professor of oncology, University of Thessaly; board member, HeSMO

Konstantinos Syrigos Professor of medicine and oncology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; Chairman of the board

Theodoros Agorastos Professor emeritus of obstetrics and gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; President

Amanda Psyrri Professor of medical oncology, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Chairman of internal medicine

Nikos Iosif President, Human Health Intelligence Organization, Chief executive

Emmanouil Saloustros Associate professor of oncology, University of Thessaly, Member of the BoD

The earlier a cancer is diagnosed, the better a patient’s chances of survival. It is also cheaper to treat cancer in its earlier stages. This panel will discuss how early detection of cancer translates into better health outcomes for cancer patients and cost savings for health authorities. How significant is patient education in the early identification of cancer? The panel will also look at two case studies on lung cancer: screening at the Papanikolaou clinic and the Union for International Cancer Control’s lung cancer collaboration initiative.

Yannick Romero, senior knowledge and advocacy manager, Union for International Cancer Control (via connection)
Korina Pateli-Bell, president, FairLife Lung Cancer Care
Kostas Athanasakis, assistant professor in health economics and health technology assessment, University of West Attica
Sophia Lampaki, reader in pulmonology-lung cancer, Pulmonology Clinic of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Commentator 
Ippokratis Korantzis, medical oncologist, St Luke’s Hospital, Thessaloniki

Yannick Romero Senior knowledge and advocacy manager

Korina Pateli-Bell President

Kostas Athanasakis Assistant professor in health economics and health technology assessment

Sophia Lampaki Reader in pulmonology-lung cancer

Ippokratis Korantzis Medical oncologist

Doctors, and their patients, are increasingly recognising the value of holistic care pathways for treating cancer. This panel will ask what a holistic care pathway for cancer patients looks like and what benefits it can bring. What can other EU countries learn from France’s groundbreaking comprehensive cancer care centres, and why has it taken Greece so long to set up its first? Why is the expansion of OIKOTHEN (a home nursing programme for cancer patients by “St Savvas” General Anticancer-Oncology Hospital) so important? This session will also consider a case study of a breast cancer care centre which is elevating the experience of cancer patients.

Marios Themistocleous, deputy minister of health, Greece 
Olga Balaoura, chief executive officer, 1st Health Region of Attica, Ministry of Health, Greece (via connection)
Michail Nikolaou, medical oncologist, “Saint Savvas” General Anticancer Oncology Hospital of Athens; vice-president of the board, HeSMO
Paraskevi Michalopoulou, president, Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer; vice-president, ELLOK 

Commentator:
Maria Avgoustidou, medical oncologist, Athens Medical Group

Marios Themistocleous Deputy minister of health

Olga Balaoura Chief executive

Michail Nikolaou Medical oncologist, “Saint Savvas” General Anticancer Oncology Hospital of Athens, Vice-president of the board

Paraskevi Michalopoulou President, Hellenic Association of Women with Breast Cancer, Vice-president

Maria Avgoustidou Medical oncologist

Advanced technologies, such as AI, are revolutionising medicine. This panel will discuss how digital innovations are being used within cancer care management in Greece and elsewhere. How can AI improve cancer imaging and what benefits can the EU’s cancer imaging initiative bring to national healthcare systems? How can real world data be used to improve evidence-based decision-making? The session will also ask whether Greece is taking full advantage of EU funding intended to enhance cancer care.

Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, secretary-general for information systems and digital governance, Ministry of Digital Governance, Greece
Manolis Tsiknakis, professor of biomedical informatics and eHealth, Hellenic Mediterranean University
Niki Tsouma, chief executive, e-Government Center for Social Security Services, Greece
Anastasios Boutis, consultant medical oncologist and director, Theagenio Anticancer Hospital of Thessaloniki; treasurer, HeSMO 

Commentator 
Anastasios Kyriazoglou, medical oncologist, Attikon University Hospital

Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos Secretary-general for information systems and digital governance, Ministry of Digital Governance, Government of Greece, Member of EU AI board

Manolis Tsiknakis Professor of biomedical informatics and eHealth

Niki Tsouma Chief executive

Anastasios Boutis Consultant medical oncologist, Director, "Theagenio" Anticancer Hospital of Thessaloniki, Treasurer

Anastasios Kyriazoglou Medical oncologist

AI is not the only technology transforming cancer research and treatment. This panel will look at the full range of innovations and how they will impact the future of clinical cancer research. What policies or initiatives encourage innovation in cancer research and what are the barriers to delivering such innovation in Europe? What novel mechanisms of cancer management are on the horizon? This session will consider a case study of one treatment centre which is ensuring patient’s access to innovative treatment methods.

Klaus Schlueter, vice-president Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Canada, value & implementation, medical and scientific affairs, MSD
Ioannis Souglakos, medical oncologist and professor of medical oncology, University of Crete 
Ilias Athanasiadis, medical oncologist and director of oncology clinic, Mitera Hospital
Ioannis Boukovinas, medical oncologist and head of BIOCLINIC Oncology Unit, Thessaloniki

Klaus Schlueter Vice-president Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Canada, value & implementation, medical and scientific affairs

Ilias Athanasiadis Μedical oncologist, director of oncology clinic

Ioannis Boukovinas Medical oncologist, Head

Ambitious cancer plans are expensive. But continuity of funding is critical for cancer management and patient outcomes. This panel will look at how countries can ensure sustainable financing for cancer innovation and whether it is possible to overcome the impact of years of austerity on innovation in healthcare. It will also consider how the European Commission is helping to strengthen Greece’s health and technology assessment regulations and whether the EU can reposition itself as an attractive research hub.

Aris Angelis, secretary-general for strategic planning, Ministry of Health, Greece
Nandia Gogozotou, non-executive president, National Organisation for the Provision of Health Services; president, Drug Price Negotiation Committee
Emmanouela Braoudaki, senior consultant, Health Policy Unit, CMT Prooptiki (via connection)
Anastasios Samouilidis, government affairs director, Greek Patients’ Association 

Commentator
Vasilios Barbounis, medical oncologist, director of the 5th Oncology Clinic, IASO Hospital

Aris Angelis Secretary-general for strategic planning

Nandia Gogozotou Non-executive president, EOPYY, President

Emmanouela Braoudaki Senior consultant, Health Policy Unit

Anastasios Samouilidis Government affairs director

Zenia Saridaki-Zoras, medical oncologist and president of the board, HeSMO 
George Kapetanakis, president, ELLOK 

George Kapetanakis President