Last update:
09-May-2025

OBJECTIVE To explore the views and perceptions of employees of public health (PH) services in Greece on the characteristics and operation of these services.

METHOD In the framework of developing the Action Plan for Public Health in the 21st century (a Bodossaki Foundation initiative), an online, self-completed anonymous questionnaire was distributed, with the link being circulated to the target population through the General Directorate of Public Health and Quality of Life of the Ministry of Health, the Association of the Administrative Regions of Greece and the professional societies and organizations with PH functions as main activities. Data was collected in June 2021. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS), version 27.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS In total, 531 subjects participated in the study. Regarding the level of implementation of the Essential Public Health Operations (EPHOs), higher implementation level was reported for the monitoring of and response to PH emergencies (43.9%), health protection (40.5%), and disease prevention (39.8%). Strategic and operational planning procedures were reported as satisfactory only by 21.3% of the sample, while evaluation of effectiveness, quality and efficiency of interventions were reported as satisfactory only by 22.2%. Those employed at the Greek National Health System spend more time than the staff of the PH services for health promotion and disease prevention activities. Understaffing (83.2%) and inadequate funding (67.2%) were perceived by far as the main weaknesses of the PH services. Health promotion and education (67.1%), primary prevention (52.8%) and health protection (47.8%) were suggested as action priorities for PH services. Of the sample, only 12.9% perceived the accessibility to PH services of the residents of remote areas as satisfactory. The formation of a scientific Organization of Public Health Professionals was characterized as useful by 82.5% of the sample. The reorganization of the PH services should focus on the better coordination among the PH services and agencies (45.9%), the sustainable funding of PH activities (43.5%), and the reduction of bureaucracy (43.5%).

CONCLUSIONS The views of employees in the field of public health can contribute to the improvement of the PH services' operation. Certainly, the main focus should be the increase in funding and the recruitment of new employees while providing the incentives for scientific and professional development through the formation of the scientific Organization of Public Health Professionals. Health promotion and education, practicing primary prevention and implementation of health protection programs should constitute the main action priorities for PH services, through the improvement of the coordination among the PH services and agencies, the reduction of bureaucracy and the narrowing of accessibility inequalities.

Key words: Perceptions, Public health functions, Public health services, Public health services performance, Public health workforce.