National health systems have faced persistent challenges, brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic, including shortages in human and financial resources and poor coordination of healthcare services.
These issues have led to lower-quality care and increased patient insecurity. Since 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) has established an office in Athens, serving as the “European Centre of Excellence for Quality in Care and Patient Safety”.
The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with its Health Workforce and Service Delivery (HWD) unit, is holding a three-day event in Athens with the goal of strengthening and empowering the nursing community in Greece.
As part of the project on the Development and Implementation of a Framework for Measuring and Evaluating the Quality of Health Care and Services provided by Health Service Providers in Greece, I participated in the proceedings of the WHO Office for Quality in Care and Patient Safety in Athens.
This collaboration with the WHO Health Workforce and Service Delivery (HWD) unit included organizing a “Mentorship Focus Group”, where I represented primary health care and the clinical training of newly qualified health professionals, following a proposal by the Department of Community Nursing at the University of Athens (UOA), with which we collaborate in student clinical practice.
I emphasized the role of primary health care in prevention and health promotion, the advancement of Community Nursing, and the empowerment of human resources.
I particularly focused on the institution of the Clinical Instructor as a critical figure in training the next generation of health professionals, particularly nurses.
On the second day, in my capacity as an elected member of the Supreme Disciplinary Council of the Hellenic Nurses Association, I delivered a presentation on Nursing Leadership in Primary Health Care. My talk covered effective management practices, training methodologies, tools for enhancing quality performance and outlining the scope of the services provided.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the WHO office in Athens and its Head, Dr. João Breda, for the honorable invitation to participate in the extremely engaging and highly significant event dedicated to the promotion of primary health care.

My heartfelt congratulations to all WHO staff in Greece and across Europe for this important initiative, which focuses on developing and promoting reliable, high-quality standards for Greece and its health systems to address the major challenges that lie ahead.

Korina Liouta , Scientific Sector of One Health and Disability Issues, “Asclepius One Health”

Former President of Sikiarideio Foundation

Elected Member of the Supreme Disciplinary Council of the Hellenic Nurses Association

Head of the Nursing Department, Health Care Centre of Maroussi