Greek Health Ministry Scraps Medical Meeting Planning Regulation

A July health ministry regulation covering the approval procedure for the organization of medical and scientific conferences and medical training has been rescinded after the reaction of the Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers (HAPCO).

The ministry’s General Directorate of Public Health withdrew on Tuesday, the regulation which was passed in July and would take effect on September 1 after HAPCO said it was “unclear, deviating from the required parliamentary approval procedure and hindering the smooth organization of conference and congress events”.

HAPCO went on to add that the ruling was “practically inapplicable” and as such would impact medical education.

In the meantime, HAPCO President Eirini Toli and board members had the chance to meet with Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis and Deputy Tourism Minister Manos Konsolas and discuss the trade body’s problems in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism market.

Theoharis pledged his support of HAPCO initiatives and added that the ministry would be working closely with the private sector to improve competitiveness, tap into innovation, and ensure viability, while seeking feedback on a 10-year tourism strategy currently on the table.