The 1st One Health Summit was successfully held on October 22 at the Athens Conservatoire, bringing together leading scientists, institutions, organizations, policymakers, and European representatives.
The event highlighted the urgent need for a National One Health Strategy in Greece, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across health, environment, and food systems to protect people, animals, and the planet.
During the Summit, participants were introduced to the first comprehensive scientific study on One Health ever conducted in Greece, developed by a distinguished research team:
- Yiannis Tountas, Study Coordinator, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of Athens and Director of the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
- Maria Linou, Veterinarian and President of the Hellenic Veterinary Society
- Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and President of the Board of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF)
- Thomas Bartzanas, Professor and Vice Rector for Research, Finance and Development at the Agricultural University of Athens
The proceedings were opened by Michalis Stangos, Co-founder of Industry Disruptors – Game Changers (IDGC), and Agata Jakoncic, Managing Director of MSD Greece, Cyprus & Malta.
Keynote greetings were delivered by Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health, and Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare.
Among the participants were:
- Yiannis Kefalogiannis, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
- Eirini Agapidaki, Deputy Minister of Health
- Joao Breda, Head of the WHO Office for Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens and Special Representative to Greece
- Spiros Protopsaltis, Secretary General for Agricultural Development & Food
The Summit also hosted representatives from the General Secretariat for Coordination of the Presidency of the Government, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the National Public Health Organization (EODY), the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET), and the Health Quality Assurance Organization (ODIPY), along with academics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the University of Thessaly.
Additional participants included members of the Attica Livestock Association, the One Health Students Greece Alumni Association, and representatives from the Regions of Western Greece, Peloponnese, and Central Greece.
The event was held with the support of the following sponsors and under the auspices of the following institutions:
Platinum Sponsor: MSD Greece
Silver Sponsor: MegaBrokers
Supporters: Smart Agro Hub, Planet, CREAT, NOMA
Under the auspices of: Ministry of National Economy and Finance, Ministry of Rural Development & Food, Region of Attica, Region of Central Greece, Agricultural University of Athens, and EFET.
