- The media funding continues through indirect government initiatives, which the European Commission had already criticized in 2021. The document containing the latest decision
- Which categories of media will receive the funds, according to the decision of the Secretary-General for Communication and Information?
- The question arises as to why all the other free information platforms on public health issues – already developed and funded during the COVID-19 pandemic – are not being used.
- The exorbitant budget of the whole project mainly concerns… call center services!
By Vasilis Galoupis
The government found it necessary to allocate 35 million euros to an obscure project entitled “Development and Operation of a Coordination, Navigation, and Multichannel Service Mechanism for the Ministry of Health”. However, the apparent normalization in recent years of public contracts that include “gifts” to the media to promote such projects is even more remarkable.
The advertising budget reaches 10%, as 3.6 million euros of the total 35 million euros allocated to the project will be directed to the media, according to a government decision.
As pointed out by Data Journalists in other research, the funds allocated to the media through project contracts are constantly increasing. It is worth noting that as early as November 2021, the then Vice-President of the European Commission, Věra Jourová, pointed to cases in countries such as Greece, Hungary, and Poland where national funds were excessively directed to the media under various pretexts and excuses.
In this specific case, the first step was taken on September 17, 2024, and was completed after mid-November.
Specifically, the Special Coordination Service of the Recovery Fund under the Ministry of Finance decided to implement the project entitled “Development and Operation of a Coordination, Navigation, and Multichannel Service Mechanism for the Ministry of Health”.
On September 17, 2024, the following document was officially published:
“We hereby approve the inclusion of the project entitled ‘Development and Operation of a Coordination, Navigation, and Multichannel Service Mechanism for the Ministry of Health’ with OPS code TA 5224393 under Action ID ‘16756 – Organizational Reforms in the Health System (KETEKNY, ODIPY)’ of the Recovery and Resilience Fund financed by the European Union – NextGeneration EU. This project concerns the improvement of navigation and guidance of citizens within the health system”.
As stated, “the proposed budget is €35.4 million including VAT”.
Even the inherently complex nature of the project, as described, raises questions about the total cost of over €35 million concerning its functionality and utility.
The following description is provided:
Project:
Development and operation of a coordination, navigation, and multi-channel service mechanism for the Ministry of Health.
Description:
The project involves the development and operation of a Coordination, Navigation and Multichannel Service Mechanism, combining technological infrastructures related to citizen services. It aims to improve the country’s health care system through information systems and tools, thereby improving the quality of services provided.
What the project involves:
- Coordination and project management: Activities such as general coordination, conducting public satisfaction surveys, conducting security and privacy studies, training, and more.
- Technical infrastructure for systems and subsystems: Systems and services for support and training.
- Digital Transformation Consultant: Expert guidance for the implementation of digital transformation initiatives.
- Service Mechanisms: Provides services to help citizens navigate healthcare services.
- Quality Assessment and Continuous Improvement Consultant: Guidance on assessing and improving service quality.
- Communication and Publicity Consultant: Ensure effective communication and public awareness of the project.
- Direct assistance through call centers: Support for primary and secondary care, public health/prevention, prescriptions and pharmacies, COVID-19-related inquiries, and other related categories (e.g. detox centers, national transplant organization, national organ donation registry, etc.).
- Mental Health Telephone Lines: Includes other categories such as Poison Control Center.
- Independent Services: Support for urgent assistance, emergencies, KETHEA (Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals), and other related services.
The project aims to provide quality services in coordination, information, and assistance to citizens in health matters, according to the mission and general principles of the
Ministry of Health, with the ultimate goal of ensuring universal and equitable access to health care.
Two months later, on November 18, 2024, it was decided to include advertising costs in the project budget. An amount of 3.6 million euros (10% of the total project expenditure) was allocated to the media, although the government already had several public communication platforms to reach citizens. In addition, direct notification methods such as SMS – successfully used during the vaccination period of the COVID-19 pandemic – are also available.
On November 18, 2024, the Secretary-General for Communication and Information notified the Ministry of Health of the decision regarding the promotional budget:
Subject: Approval of the communication program for the project “Development and operation of a coordination, navigation, and multichannel service mechanism for the Ministry of Health”.
We approve the communication program for the project “Development and Operation of a Coordination, Navigation, and Multichannel Service Mechanism for the Ministry of Health,” which is part of the Recovery and Resilience Fund. The total approved budget for the communication program is three million six hundred fifty-one thousand eight hundred euros ($3,651,800.00).
It should be noted that the placement of advertisements or any other paid placement or promotion, whether directly or indirectly compensated, is only valid in print or electronic media registered in the Print Media Registry (M.E.T.) or Electronic Media Registry (M.H.T.) of the General Secretariat of Communication and Information, by paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 22 of Law 5005/2022 (A’236). Failure to do so will render the contract or order null and void.
The decision is signed “By order of the Deputy Minister, Secretary General for Communication and Information, Dimitrios Galamatis”.
On the same day, the decision was notified to the Office of the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, the Office of the Secretary-General for Communication and Information, and the Associations of Provincial Newspapers, Magazine Publishers, Regional Weeklies, Regional TV Channels, Radio Stations and Local Daily and Weekly Newspapers of Attica.
The questions that arise are, first, why is the government spending such an exorbitant amount – 10% of the total project budget – on communication and promotion, focusing almost exclusively on a specific segment of the Greek media, namely the regional press?
Secondly, why are all the “direct” citizen information platforms on health issues – already developed and funded during the COVID-19 pandemic – not being used? This includes the method of mass SMS and e-mails, which have been used effectively in the past.
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