4TH THESSALONIKI INTERNAL AUDITORS’ CONFERENCE: ONE ROAD TO HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT, THE COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE BY THE ATHENS MEDICAL GROUP
Athens 11 May 2018 – The Athens Medical Group, through the Inter-Balkan Medical Group of Thessaloniki, confirming its long-standing commitment to the principles of Corporate Governance that it follows and the Internal Procedures and Control System that it applies to all of its operations, supported with its participation, for the second consecutive time, as the only company in the Health sector, the “4th Thessaloniki Conference”, organized by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Greece (IIA Greece).
 |
| Perry Apostolopoulou, Internal Audit Department, Athens Medical Group, Nikolaos Kalatzis, Internal Audit Director, Athens Medical Group. |
The conference on the topic: “Practical Issues of Internal Audit in the Private and Public Sectors“, was recently held in the conference room of the Municipal Council of the Thessaloniki City Hall and was held under the auspices of the Mayor of Thessaloniki Mr. I. Boutaris and the institutional support of the Body of Public Administration Auditors.
The conference was attended by executives from all over Greece who work in the fields of Internal Audit, Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance, in the private and public sectors. The conference was also attended by students, members of the university community, while the presence of the Finance Directorate of the General Staff of the Army was also significant.
During the conference, attendees had the opportunity to attend three rounds of thematic roundtable discussions, related to Audit Committees, after the changes in their composition and mode of operation with Law 4449/2017 and Internal Audit, the standards for the implementation of Internal Audit and finally, the challenges and new perspectives of the forms of Audit in the Public Sector.
In the thematic section concerning Audit Committees and Internal Audit, the Group’s Internal Audit Manager, Mr. Nikolaos Kalatzis, presented to the participants the Management’s choice to proceed with the establishment of an Audit Committee with independent members, the majority of whom are not also independent non-executive members of the Board of Directors.
 |
| A snapshot from the conference, entitled: “Practical Issues of Internal Audit in the Private and Public Sector”, which was organized by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Greece (IIA Greece) |
In this way, it increased the number of independent persons who monitor the operation of the Internal Audit System, strengthening the Group’s Corporate Governance structures.
He also emphasized that the success of the effective operation of a company’s audit bodies (Audit Committees, Internal Audit Department) stems primarily from the belief or not that a management has in the purpose and role that these audit mechanisms perform, as part of a broader Internal Audit System and Procedures, designed by the managements themselves.
The Management of the Athens Medical Center, having had this belief over time, old and new generations, recognizes not only the work of its audit bodies but also expects at every moment the added value of both their audit and advisory role, in the context of achieving the Group’s goals.
Dr. Vasilis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Athens Medical Group, stated: “As a responsible corporate citizen, the Medical Group is always supportive of every effort to strengthen and promote corporate governance, as we believe that the credibility of Greek businesses is a key factor in regaining the country’s credibility in the international economic arena. Our constant goal is to fully inform all employees, partners, customers and patients about all of our actions, which highlight our firm position of operating as a responsible organization and corporate citizen. Continuing its successful strategy, the Athens Medical Group will continue to focus on extroversion, innovation and investments, while increasing its economic, social and environmental footprint, demonstrating in practice its commitment to being “always one step ahead”.
For more press information:
Savvas Karagiannis, Communications Manager, Business Development Department of Iatriko Athens Group
Tel.: 210 6862521, E-mail: s.karagiannis@iatriko.gr
