Patients at the centre – This was the message in the continuous targeted interventions of the Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association, which led to the positive developments for the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre at Sismanoglio, the largest adult centre in Greece.

We are pleased to inform you that the advertisement for the permanent position of a B’ Pulmonology Attending with experience in Cystic Fibrosis at Sismanoglio on 22 July 2025 has been published in “Diavgeia” (see here the notice).

At the same time, positive mobility is also recorded in the field of nursing staffing of the C.I. Centre of Cismanoglio, which enhances the prospects for gradual upgrading of the quality of care and therapeutic continuity in the Unit.

These are the first substantial steps to strengthen the Cystic Fibrosis Adult Centre of Sismanoglio – the largest adult unit in the country. These positive developments are the fruit of continuous and targeted institutional interventions by patients through the Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association, as in the past period:

• We met the Minister of Health Mr. Adonis Georgiades with the representatives of the Hellenic Pulmonary Society – EPE (more here),
• We sent detailed letters to the Ministry of Health and made successive communications with the relevant departments of the Ministry,
• We held a series of communications, letters and meetings at Sismanoglio with the Administrator Mrs. Zoe Rakopoulou, the Rev. Commander Mr. Ioannis Efthymiadis , the Director of the Nursing Service Mrs. Andriana Kakogianni,the Director of the B’ Pulmonology Clinic Mr. Emmanuel Kastanakis and other stakeholders, conveying documented patient needs for immediate support of the Unit (more here)

The strengthening of the Centre and our interventions are ongoing and we are closely monitoring the issue.
We continue to be in close cooperation with the new Director of Sismanoglio. Ms. Rakopoulou, who from the first moment she took up her new duties has been listening carefully to the requests of patients and has committed herself to the gradual strengthening of the Unit.

We would like to thank the Ministry of Health, the EIA, the management of Sismanoglio and all those involved for their support and response to our requests.

The struggle of the Panhellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association continues for the full staffing and institutional upgrading of all Cystic Fibrosis Centers, pediatric and adult, as well as the Lung Transplant Center. We demand specialised care and therapeutic continuity at every stage of patients’ lives – from childhood and adulthood to the transplantation phase, where required – as a critical pillar for quality of life.

We continue to be in constant and stable institutional cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Hospital Administrations, our doctors and all stakeholders.

We note that:

• There are only two adult Cystic Fibrosis Centres in Greece: the first one at the Sismanoglio General Hospital, which serves more than 300 patients from all over the country, and the second one at the Papanikolaou General Hospital in Thessaloniki, which covers about 70-80 patients from Northern Greece. Therefore, there is no alternative option for specialized care and treatment for adult Cystic Fibrosis patients in our country.
• For the paediatric population there are specialized paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Centres: in Athens at the Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital and in Thessaloniki at the Hippocrates Hospital and Papageorgiou Hospital. At the same time, in the region, there are auxiliary Cystic Fibrosis Clinics for adults and children in cooperation with the major Centers in: PagnI of Heraklion, Crete, University Hospital of Patras and University Hospital of Larissa.
• As innovative treatments increase survival rates, it is estimated that by 2030 75-80% of Cystic Fibrosis patients will be adults. The increased needs require strengthening of centres and upgrading of services at national level.
• The role of all Centres and Clinics, both paediatric and adult, as well as the Transplant Centre is crucial for the survival and quality of life of patients. There is a need for a substantial strengthening of all structures to support the work of doctors and health professionals who stand by patients every day with a high sense of responsibility, commitment and dedication.

A detailed update on the latest developments will be given at the next online meeting of the Association’s members (coffee break) in September (date & time to be announced).

For queries or reports, patients and carers can continue to contact our Association at: helpline@cysticfibrosis.gr
The written reports from the community are valuable and are an essential foundation for our institutional claims.