Former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has criticized state health agency EOPYY for including non-binary gender options on its online prescription portal.
Insured citizens in Greece are required to declare their gender as male, female, other, or undefined when filling out digital applications to receive high-cost medications from the state healthcare provider.
In an online statement published on September 1, Samaras said that requiring insured individuals to select from these categories to access pharmaceuticals shows that a woke agenda has entered state administration. He added that similar messaging has already appeared in school textbooks, describing the administrative decision as a conscious choice by the government.
Samaras stated that beyond the absurdity of linking gender classification to medical access, Greece faces pressing demographic risks that require supporting the family rather than redefining it. He remarked that the only undefined element is the extent of ideological mutation within the ruling party, asserting that such policies do not reflect the core principles of New Democracy or the values of the Greek public.
State health agency platform
The National Organisation for the Provision of Health Services, known as EOPYY, is Greece's primary public health insurance authority. Established to manage unified healthcare benefits, EOPYY oversees medical coverage, pharmacy reimbursements, and specialized digital portals for authorizing expensive pharmaceuticals prescribed for severe or chronic conditions.
Samaras served as prime minister of Greece from June 2012 to January 2015, leading a coalition government through critical stages of the European debt crisis. A long-serving figure within conservative politics who previously led New Democracy, he remains an influential voice on traditional social values, national sovereignty, and party ideology.
Demographic debates and conservative policy
New Democracy is Greece's main center-right political party, currently governing under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The party advocates economic modernization alongside traditional social values. Demographic decline has become a prominent national debate in Greek politics, with conservative lawmakers frequently calling for policies that strengthen family welfare and encourage domestic birth rates.
High-cost medications in the Greek healthcare system include specialized treatments for cancer, autoimmune disorders, and rare diseases. Patients and healthcare providers must submit official applications through state digital platforms to secure state subsidies and ensure regulated distribution of these vital drugs.
The comments from Samaras highlight ongoing ideological debates within Greek politics regarding administrative reforms and social policy. Government ministries continue to evaluate healthcare administration procedures and public welfare programs, while party figures remain focused on balancing social modernization with traditional conservative commitments.
