The National Public Health Organization (EODY) has undergone a major administrative shift following the resignation of its entire Board of Directors, led by Professor Christos Chatzichristodoulou of the University of Thessaly’s Medical School and Chair of Epidemiology. The resignation was formally submitted to the Ministry of Health on Thursday, 5 March 2026. According to reports, the move did not come as a surprise to the ministry, as tensions and operational challenges within EODY had been mounting in recent months.
Roots of the Tension
Difficulties reportedly intensified after the appointment of an operational chief at EODY—a role that functioned alongside, rather than under, the Board’s scientific advisory bodies—creating internal friction and undermining cohesive governance.
New Leadership Through Open Competition
A new leadership selection process is expected to begin shortly, conducted via an open, merit-based competition in line with the so-called ‘Kerameos Law’—the legal framework governing appointments to executive boards of public agencies in Greece. This same model will also be applied to select new leadership for other key health sector entities, including the National Centre for Direct Aid (EKAB) and the Organization for Quality Assurance in Healthcare (ODIPY). Current leadership teams are considered transitional and remain in place on extended mandates pending the outcome of these procedures.
Board’s Final Assessment
In its resignation letter, the outgoing Board emphasized that EODY now operates on a stable footing, thanks to structural upgrades and capacity-building efforts undertaken over the past several years. In a related statement, Dr. Dimitris Chatzigeorgiou, General Director of Public Health, offered a brief review of the past two years—highlighting both significant challenges and substantial progress.
During this period, EODY managed critical public health emergencies—including the health impacts of the Daniel and Elias floods in Thessaly—and developed national action plans addressing antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, avian influenza, and West Nile virus. It also coordinated the mpox vaccination campaign across six dedicated centers.
Institutionally, EODY established its first operational framework in 32 years, secured approval for 16 modernization projects funded by the Recovery Fund, expanded its workforce and equipment, regained accreditation for its Central Public Health Laboratory after a seven-year gap, and reopened regional laboratories previously shuttered. New digital tools were introduced for epidemiological surveillance; the mandatory disease reporting system was revised; and a novel open-source intelligence monitoring unit was created.
In prevention, the role of Primary Health Care Units (KOMY) was redefined as mobile frontline health units, and sexual health offices were launched across multiple regions nationwide.