Patient organisations stated that the new rehabilitation law does not meet the needs

The new law on the licensing and operation of rehabilitation centres, adopted by the House of Representatives on Thursday, does not meet the needs of patients, the Federation of Patient Associations (OSAK) and the Third Age Observatory said on Friday.

The law divides centres into categories A and B, introduces fines of up to €100,000 for operating without a licence, and allows temporary concessions for private hospitals, giving them more time to comply with the new criteria.

OSAK criticised the law as being based on a “logic of administrative privilege”, stating that it undermines the very concept of rehabilitation. The organisation noted that after discussions with DISY — the health committee chaired by MP Efthymios Diplaros — the amendments were not taken into account. AKEL proposed amendments in July following consultations with OSAK, but only some amendments agreed with DIKO were approved by the committee.

According to OSAK, the law exempts existing facilities with private hospital licences from the new evaluation procedure, creating a “framework of unequal treatment”. The Third Age Observatory also expressed strong disapproval, pointing to the maintenance of artificial categorisation of centres without scientific justification and the threat to equal access to quality rehabilitation for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Diplaros described the legislation as a social policy measure to ensure “quality and dignified” care and warned of a shortage of places. The Ministry of Health will monitor enforcement of the law and ensure access to the national health system (GESY); additional decrees with new standards for rehabilitation centres are expected.