WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1038/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Abandonment of mental health reforms in Greece
Date: 1997-03-12
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU financing, Greece, action programme, health care profession, psychiatric institution, psychiatry, public health, social change, social policy, vocational training













EUR-Lex - 91997E1038 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91997E1038

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1038/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Abandonment of mental health reforms in Greece  


Official Journal C 319 , 18/10/1997 P. 0219 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-1038/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 March 1997)Subject: Abandonment of mental health reforms in GreeceAccording to reports in the press, the Greek Ministry of Health and Employment does not even have the minimum resources to devote to mental health reform with the result that 16 psychiatric centres and training facilities remain closed.Although the Commission regards de-institutionalization as a social policy priority, Greece is still legislating for asylum rather than reform.1. On what grounds was the de-institutionalization programme discontinued?2. What were the reasons militating against the continuation of measures under Regulation 815/84 ((OJ L 88, 31.3.1984, p. 1. )) covered by the operational programme for combating exclusion from the labour market?3. What measures has the Commission taken to ensure that Greece has made due use of Community funds?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1997)1. The de-institutionalisation and reduction in numbers of long-stay patients in the psychiatric hospitals constituted one of the strategic objectives of programme B-reform of the psychiatric care system, of Regulation 815/84 providing for exceptional financial support in favour of Greece in the social field. The other two strategic objectives were the gradual replacement of the institution-based system of psychiatric care by a decentralised framework of community based psychiatric services and the vocational adaptation of medical, therapeutic and paramedical staff to new methods and models of care through training and re-training.The implementation of Regulation 815/84 was successfully completed in June 1995 following a 3 year extension upon request of the Greek authorities (Regulation 4130/88 ((OJ L 362, 30.12.1988. )) amending Regulation 815/84). The Greek authorities were committed to secure continuity of the reform and build upon its achievements.2. The Community support framework for Greece 1994-1999 provides some possibilities to support this effort of the Greek authorities through new forms of intervention notably under the operational programme to combat exclusion from the labour market. The scope of action however is not the same as that of Regulation 815/84. It provides mainly for the socio-economic integration or re-integration of people with mental health problems.3. The Commission, maintaining its interest in the continuation of the reform of the psychiatric care system in Greece and in order to ensure that action implemented under the operational programme makes a valuable contribution to the effort of the Greek authorities, requested a comprehensive plan comprising all the action required to complete the psychiatric reform. On the basis of this plan, the Commission will identify the type of action that could be co-financed within the context of the operational programme to combat exclusion from the labour market and will ensure that such action is implemented in a systematic way and subject to close monitoring and evaluation.