As of 1 July 2026, Greece’s military hospitals and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School Hospital (NIMTS) have started procuring pharmaceuticals through the electronic platform of the National Central Health Procurement Authority (EKAPY), the Ministry of National Defence announced on Monday, 13 July 2026.
A More Efficient, Modern and Streamlined System
This change marks a major administrative upgrade for the Hellenic Armed Forces’ healthcare system. Under the new framework, military hospitals now serve Armed Forces personnel in a more rational, modernised, and simplified manner.
Addressing Longstanding Inefficiencies
Deputy Minister of National Defence Thanasis Davakis explained that until recently, the Armed Forces purchased medicines outside EKAPY’s centralised procurement system — missing out on significant discounts, rebates, and other financial benefits secured through economies of scale and unified order management.
In practice, this meant higher drug costs, delayed payments to suppliers, and unnecessary use of personnel to manage large volumes of orders across military hospitals, NIMTS, and other defence health units.
Systematic Reform Launched in October 2025
To address these challenges, a comprehensive reform effort began in October 2025. It aimed to rationalise, modernise, and simplify pharmaceutical procurement for the Armed Forces.
A key legislative step came on 15 May 2026 with Law 5302/2026 (Articles 19–24), which formally integrated military hospitals, NIMTS, and other armed forces health structures into EKAPY’s institutional framework. A deadline of 30 June 2026 was set for completing all technical and operational integration steps into EKAPY’s electronic system.
Successful Implementation from 1 July
The reform has now been successfully implemented: since 1 July, military healthcare units can submit electronic orders for pharmaceuticals directly through EKAPY. To date, over 100 orders have already been placed.
Davakis expressed his gratitude to the leadership of military hospitals, EKAPY’s management and staff, and the dedicated working group that collaborated systematically throughout the process — underscoring that the reform delivers both financial savings and more efficient use of human resources, ultimately strengthening the Hellenic Armed Forces and supporting their personnel.