Most “PROLAMVANO” screening programmes are expected to resume by the end of October, supported by national funding.
Greece’s “Fofi Gennimata” breast cancer screening programme was scheduled to restart on Tuesday, October 13, with SMS invitations offering eligible women free mammograms. Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistokleous announced that almost all “PROLAMVANO” preventive screening programmes, including cardiovascular screening, are expected to be reactivated by the end of the month.
Speaking to ACTION24, Themistokleous described prevention as a central pillar of the Health Ministry’s policy. He said the programmes would now be supported by national funds and assured viewers that financing had been secured.
Who will receive an invitation?
The deputy minister clarified that SMS invitations will be sent to eligible women who are due for another mammogram under the programme’s screening interval. Women who have recently undergone the examination will not receive an invitation in this round.
He also stressed the importance of early detection. In remarks reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Themistokleous said breast cancer affects one in eight women and that cure rates exceed 95% when the disease is detected early. He urged women to keep up with mammography screening and contact their doctor promptly if they notice anything suspicious.
Social media access for under-15s also discussed
During the same interview, Themistokleous outlined plans to restrict social media use by children under the age of 15.
He said existing digital tools would be used alongside cooperation with platforms and stronger age checks. He also referred to an anticipated European directive which, according to his remarks, would address both children’s access and platform practices designed to keep young users online for longer.
Discussing adolescent mental health, the deputy minister linked late-night phone use to insufficient sleep and difficulty concentrating at school. He also expressed concern that constantly switching between short pieces of content could affect attention, while excessive use could worsen mental health problems.
