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PROLAMVANO PROGRAMME

MEDIFIRST clinics participate in the National Prevention Programme "PROLAMVANO"

Prevention is the greatest gift for your health. Get it for free

With the key message “Prevention is the greatest gift for your health. Get it for free”, MEDIFIRST – Athinaiki General Clinic and Medifirst Group Practices – actively participates in the National Prevention Programme “PROLAMVANO”, a significant initiative of the Ministry of Health with an emphasis on prevention. With this programme, the State has created a comprehensive framework that helps citizens avoid suffering and expense by offering free preventative examinations for early diagnosis and protection from critical diseases.

MEDIFIRST clinics actively support this effort, focusing on two important axes for health: the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cervical cancer.

Examinations for Kidney Diseases

  • Because up to approximately 10% of the population may suffer from some form of kidney disease without knowing it. Kidney dysfunction can be asymptomatic in its early stages.
  • Because patients with hypertension and those suffering from diabetes usually have a higher risk of developing kidney disease.
  • Because chronic kidney disease is not limited only to kidney damage but also significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Eligible beneficiaries have the option to undergo the Program’s laboratory tests free of charge and without an appointment. The laboratory tests include:
  • eGFR (calculation of serum creatinine combined with sex and age), and
  • uACR (urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio).
The program, through the provision of free preventive laboratory tests, is addressed to all citizens aged 30 to 70, as well as their children up to 29 years old, who have an AMKA (Social Security Number), whether insured or uninsured, in cases of a history of arterial hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Beneficiaries aged 30–70 who do not fall under the excluded diseases undergo kidney dysfunction tests if they fall under:
  1. either the following ICD-10
  2. diabetes mellitus (E10, E11, E12, E13, E14)
  3. arterial hypertension (I10, I11, I12, I13, I14, I15)
  4. cardiovascular diseases (ICD-10), except those provided for.
The following are excluded from the above:
  1. those suffering from acute, chronic, or unspecified forms of kidney failure (N17–N19)
  2. glomerular diseases, inflammatory glomerulonephritis, and nephrotic syndromes (N00–N08), and
  3. diabetic nephropathy (E10.21, E11.21)
The referral (via paperless e-prescription) for the tests to check kidney dysfunction is sent via message (SMS) to their mobile phone or by e-mail to their email address. Beneficiaries who have not activated paperless e-prescription can contact our facilities for more details using only their AMKA.

Examinations for Cardiovascular Diseases

Approximately one in two men and one in three women in middle age, develop or will develop some form of cardiovascular disease during their lives. Cardiovascular disease is more often than not, symptomless and appears “suddenly”.

Those who are eligible can do the Programme prevention tests free of charge and without an appointment. The blood tests related to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular risk include:
  • Total cholesterol (TCHOL)
  • Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)
  • High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
  • Triglycerides (TGs)
  • Blood sugar – glucose (CL)
  • General blood test
  • Determination of lipoprotein α {LP (a)}
Based on the results of the tests, a visit to a Cardiologist, Internist or General Practitioner may be necessary and can be scheduled. If necessary, based on the findings, a cardiological assessment is carried out to check for the presence or absence of coronary artery disease.

Those eligible for the free cardiological exam are men and women from 30 to 70 years of age who have an AMKA number, regardless of whether they have insurance cover or not.

The referral (online e-prescription) for blood tests for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, is sent by text message (SMS) to their mobile phone or by e-mail to their email address.

Cervical cancer screening tests

Within the same framework, Cervical Cancer is also at the heart of the Prevention Programme, with free examinations for all eligible females, immediately, simply and without delay.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the IARC (Global Cancer Observatory, 2022), cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide, as well as the 4th cause of cancer death in the female population. The Ministry of Health, through the National Prevention Programme “PROLAMVANO”, has set the goal of eliminating cases of cervical cancer due to the HPV virus. To this end:

  • Coverage of vaccination against the HPV virus has already been expanded to girls and boys, aged 15-18 and is reimbursed by EOPYY (National Health Services Organization).
  • It is extremely important that everyone who is eligible for the Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme takes advantage of the free examinations and participates in the screening programme, as the earlier the disease is detected, the more easily and effectively it is treated.

The free tests included in the programme are:

  • Gynecological examination
  • Pap Test sampling (for women 21-29 years old)
  • Molecular HPV DNA Test (for women 30-65 years old)
  • Pap Test / HPV DNA Test analysis
  • Colposcopy & biopsy by a specialist doctor, based on the findings

The Programme of free examinations is available to all women between the ages of 21 and 65 who have not be diagnosed with cervical cancer, have an AMKA number, regardless of whether they have insurance cover or not.

Women who fulfil the criteria and who are entitled to participate in the Programme will automatically receive a referral for a Pap Test by SMS to their mobile phone or by email to their email address, provided they have activated their online e-prescription.

An appointment is made to do the exams. In case of pathological results, subsequent exams are then automatically triggered, based on the clinical protocol, such as a repeat examination, a colposcopy or referral for further gynecological investigation.

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Medifirst participates in the “Fofi Gennimata” Programme for the prevention of breast cancer

Medifirst clinics also participate in the “Fofi Gennimata” National Screening Programme for the prevention of breast cancer. This is the most common form of cancer in European Union countries and the number 1 cause of death from cancer in women.

The “Fofi Gennimata” National Breast Cancer Prevention Programme includes the following examinations:

  • Digital Mammography examination for all eligible women
  • Ultrasound (in case of a finding or need for further investigation)
  • Clinical examination (based on findings)

The programme is aimed at all women between the ages of 45 and 74 who are in Greece and have an AMKA number, regardless of whether they have insurance cover or not. Women who have already had a breast examination during the previous year or who have suffered from breast cancer in the last five years are excluded.

All eligible women, aged 45-74, who have activated their online e-prescription, will gradually received (by age group and region) an SMS or email with the referral for a digital mammogram. Those eligible who have not activated the online e-prescription, can book their appointment for the examination, free of charge, simply by providing their AMKA number.

Information on the Programme

For further information related to the Prevention Programme “Prolamvano”, eligibility and how to participate, citizens can visit the following websites: