Athens Medical Group: Event on Health Diplomacy in the Context of Geopolitical Developments
The event on the theme “Health Diplomacy in the Context of Geopolitical Developments” was held with great success at the Athens Club, organized by the Athens Medical Group, under the auspices of the Greek Consular Corps CCG and the support of the Consulate of Monaco in Athens, with the keynote speaker being Dr. Ioannis Spiliotis, Director of Surgery & Surgical Oncology at the Athens Medical Center.
The event was opened by the President of the Athens Club, Mr. Kyriakos Koukoulommatis, followed by a speech by the CEO of the Athens Medical Group and Honorary Consul of Monaco, Dr. Vassilis G. Apostolopoulos.
from left: Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos, CEO of the Athens Medical Group
The event was addressed by the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, the former European Union Commissioner, Minister and current Member of Parliament, Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, as well as the President of the Athens Medical Association, Mr. Giorgos Patoulis.
During his address, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos highlighted the role of health diplomacy as a means of strengthening international cooperation and the geopolitical presence of Greece. He pointed out that “Health diplomacy is something that has characterized the Athens Medical Group since the early years of its creation and is not a goal that we have pursued and served pretentiously but spontaneously. Our goal has always been for Greece to have a presence and intervention in international affairs through us.”
snapshot from the event
He also referred to key moments of the humanitarian action of the Athens Medical Group in its 40 years of operation, starting from the earthquakes in Armenia in the late 1980s, the coup in the Soviet Union in 1991, the Yugoslav war, the Gaza crisis alongside President Arafat, the missions to Serbia, the first shipment of medicines by Latest Archbishop Anastasios to Albania and more recently humanitarian aid to the Greek diaspora in the war in Ukraine.
The Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, stressed the importance of Greece’s cooperation with other countries in the health sector, noting: “With the Athens Medical Group and especially with Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos, we have collaborated to highlight Greece’s capabilities in providing medical services, contributing to the strengthening of our country’s international relations.”
from left: Dr. Ioannis Spiliotis, Director of Surgery & Surgical Oncology at the Athens Medical Center, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos, CEO of Athens Medical Group, Pavlos De Gres, Mr. George Patoulis, President of the Athens Medical Association
Mr. Dimitris Avramopoulos, referred to the role of Dr. George V. Apostolopoulos, Founder and President of Athens Medical Group, as a pioneer in the concept of health diplomacy in Greece.
The keynote speaker of the event, Dr. Ioannis Spiliotis, developed the importance of health diplomacy in shaping geopolitical developments. Through historical examples, he highlighted how the management of health crises can bridge differences between states. He also emphasized that “Greece and the Athens Medical Group have the ability to coordinate and face challenges that classical diplomacy is unable to manage.”
The event brought together prominent personalities, members of the Athens Club, as well as distinguished executives from the fields of health and politics.
κ. Dimitris Avramopoulos, former European Union Commissioner, Minister and current Member of Parliament
from left: Mr. Stefanos Tapsis, General Manager of Iatriko Psychiko, Ms. Varvara Pliatsika, General Manager of Iatriko Dafni, Mr. Theodoros Talaris, Regional Manager of Iatriko Peristeri and Iatriko Paleo Faliro, Mr. Georgios Boutsioukos, Management Consultant of Iatriko Athens Group, Dr. Ioannis Spiliotis, Director of Surgery & Surgical Oncology of the Athens Medical Center, Pavlos De Gres, Dr. Vasilis G. Apostolopoulos, CEO of Athens Medical Group, Mr. Kostis Hatzigiannakis, Director of Corporate & International Relations of Athens Medical Group.
