Press Release: Inauguration of innovative operating rooms at the Inter-Balkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki
Inauguration of the unique “Hyperion” Robotic Hybrid Operating Room and three pioneering digital operating rooms equipped with cutting-edge technology at the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki – “Innovation with Health at the Center”
The inauguration of the New State-of-the-Art Operating Rooms took place at the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki on Tuesday, 21 February 2023, in the presence of Minister of Health Thanos Plevris and Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas. The blessing ceremony was conducted by His Eminence Metropolitan Varnavas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis.
Image 1 – The inauguration ribbon-cutting by Minister of Health Thanos Plevris and Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas. Also present were Dr. Georgios Apostolopoulos, Chairman of Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vassilis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Group, and Executive Vice President Christos Apostolopoulos
Athens Medical Group is always one step ahead and invests in cutting-edge technology with Vision and Consistency, ensuring optimal conditions for the provision of high-quality healthcare services.
Continuing the further development of the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, which ranks among the most advanced hospitals in Europe and as one of the pioneering hospital institutions worldwide in the adoption of new technologies, four new state-of-the-art operating rooms were created: the unique “Hyperion” Robotic Hybrid Operating Room, the first in Northern Greece, as well as three pioneering digital operating rooms equipped with cutting-edge technology, enabling the distinguished and internationally recognized scientists of the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki to perform the most innovative and complex surgical procedures. The investment amounts to approximately 5 million euros.
Image 2 – The “Hyperion” Robotic Hybrid Operating Room.
The CEO of Athens Medical Group, Dr. Vassilis Apostolopoulos, opening the event, described the inauguration day as an important one for medicine in Thessaloniki and emphasized that the two years of the pandemic provided the Group with an opportunity to design and implement major initiatives. He also noted that, through the pioneering initiatives undertaken, the Group contributed to brain gain, bringing back more than 40 distinguished and highly qualified Greek doctors from abroad within a two-year period.
Dr. Vassilis Apostolopoulos stressed that “the Interbalkan Medical Center and the Group are leading the way with the aim of delivering higher-quality services to citizens” and added that the Interbalkan Medical Center represents the spearhead of Athens Medical Group’s growth trajectory, already ranking among Europe’s leading institutions, reaffirming the principle of being “always one step ahead”.
Minister of Health Thanos Plevris, for his part, highlighted the Group’s contribution to healthcare, particularly during the pandemic. He also noted that the system of joint on-call coverage between private clinics and public hospitals has contributed to a reduction in the use of corridor beds in Athens, with citizens ultimately benefiting. He further emphasized that the funds invested by Athens Medical Group are returned to society.
Regional Governor of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas made special reference to the first and only Hybrid Operating Room, which, as he stated, demonstrates that the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki is innovating and, along with it, the wider region is innovating as well.
The Regional Governor noted that the Interbalkan Medical Center changed the healthcare landscape of Northern Greece and succeeded in becoming one of Europe’s leading hospitals. “The fact that it continues to move forward while setting the bar high fills us with optimism,” Mr. Tzitzikostas added, also highlighting the Group’s significant social contribution through initiatives supporting the communities of Thessaloniki and Northern Greece.
Image 3 – Tour of the “Hyperion” Robotic Hybrid Operating Room.
The Chairman of Athens Medical Group, Dr. Georgios Apostolopoulos, closed the event with his speech, reviewing the Group’s journey and referring to the vision he had when he opened the first Medical Center in Maroussi in 1984, noting that his major goal was for no Greek patient to need to travel abroad for treatment and for the new institution to become a meeting point between science and technology. “We changed the healthcare landscape in Greece”, he stated emphatically, adding that the Group will continue to invest and expressing his intention to establish a Medical School in Thessaloniki, which he said he was confident would become a reality.
Image 4 – One of the four Digital Operating Rooms.
The distinguished and internationally recognized scientists of the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki spoke about the cutting-edge technological equipment:
Vlasis Ninios, Interventional Cardiologist, Director of the 2nd Cardiology Department.
Antonios Pitsis, Cardiac Surgeon, Director of the 1st Cardiac Surgery Department.
Nikolaos Melas, Vascular Surgeon, Director of the 1st Vascular Surgery Department.
Among those attending the event were
the Mayor of Pylaia – Chortiatis, Ignatios Kaitezidis,
the President of the Panhellenic Medical Association, Athanasios Exadaktylos, and
the President of the Thessaloniki Medical Association, Nikos Nitsas.
