2024-07-07 05:42:30
Changing the administrative model of the Mental Health sector with the creation of a National Network of Mental Health Services (EDYPSY), which includes all the relevant services of the National Health Service, is proposed by the draft law that was put to public consultation yesterday (opengov.gr) by the Ministry of Health.
With this specific intervention, the ministry attempts to complete the psychiatric reform that began 25 years ago, with the transformation of the currently completely disjointed remaining psychiatric hospitals and parts of general hospitals into a decentralized network of cooperating structures, and the establishment for the first time single framework for the organization of the services provided. The purpose is to improve and promote the mental health of the population and to ensure their unhindered access to all necessary services.
Regional networks
In particular, as stated in the draft law, the EDYPSY is structured in regional networks of Mental Health Services (PEDYPSY), which operate in the local competent administrations of Health Regions, where a deputy director of mental health is appointed, who, among other things, coordinates the services and implements the national policy mental health. Each regional network consists of the mental health units of the public sector (PSNA, PSNTH, psychiatric departments of the NHS general hospitals, Mental Health Centers, etc.) that operate within the boundaries of the relevant Health Region (HRE), and provide mental health services health to people with mental disorders who live or reside in the area of responsibility of the relevant Ministry of Health, with the exception of an emergency (natural disasters, pandemics, etc.), and the absence of a similar mental health unit in the area where the patient resides.
EDYPSY also includes the Prisoners’ Psychiatry of Korydallos and the Women’s Psychiatric Department of the Eleonas Penitentiary. The staff of the mental health units that are included in the EDYPSY are automatically transferred and with the same employment relationship to the Regional Health Administrations. Dromokaiteio, henceforth, is interconnected with the mental health service provision structures of the relevant DYPE, as will also apply to the Aeginetio hospital. For the best and efficient operation of the EDYPSY, an information system for epidemiological support is recommended to the Ministry of Health, which monitors in real time the operation of mental health units, in particular their occupancy, available beds, patient appointments within the network.
Meeting needs
As stated in the explanatory report, the proposed system of organizing mental health services is expected to lead to meeting all the needs of people who will face challenges in their mental health, improving the diffusion of available free services, reducing the waiting time for access to necessary mental health services, reduction of hospitalizations, especially involuntary ones, early detection of new patients and targeted referral to quality services.
The same draft law also describes the creation of a National Organization for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (EOPAE), which includes all public sector organizations, institutions and programs for the treatment of addictions. According to the ministry, the provision of all available addiction and detoxification options by one agency, while maintaining therapeutic pluralism, contributes to reducing the waiting time for addicts to be included in the necessary treatment programs, to the immediate rotation and combination of available treatment methods and programs for each addict and therefore in preventing unwanted breaks between the various programs.
Concentration of structures
According to the draft law, EOPAE is established as NPID and it includes all the structures of OKANA, KETHEA, “18ANO” and the alcohol addiction unit of PSNA, the ARGO, IANOS programs and the alcohol addiction unit , medicines and games of chance of PSNTH, and the addiction units of the Ioannina Hatzikosta hospital and the Corfu hospital. EOPAE contributes to the planning, promotion and implementation of the national policy for the holistic treatment of addictions, is supervised by the Ministry of Health and provides free services to the entire population. With the start of its operation, the personnel serving in OKANA and KETHEA are automatically transferred to EOPAE with the same employment relationship and maintaining their employment rights. The permanent staff serving in the programs of the public hospitals that are part of the new organization may be seconded to EOPAE.
Source kathimerini.gr