Author: k3-editor

Kapa3 at the 6th Interdisciplinary Conference “Brain & Mind”

Kapa3 actively participated in the 6th Interdisciplinary Conference “Brain & Mind”, held from December 18 to 20, 2025, at the Book Tower of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens. The conference brought together scientists, healthcare professionals, and civil society organizations to highlight current challenges and solutions in neuroscience, psychology, and digital health.

During the Round Table “Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence: Current Challenges”, Kapa3 presented its approach to the human-centered dimension of digital healthcare. Litsa Bista emphasized the importance of digital literacy for patients and healthcare professionals, noting that:

Digital technology is evolving as a core pillar of modern, safe, and human-centered care, particularly in oncology. When patients and healthcare professionals have the appropriate digital skills, stress is reduced, access to reliable information is enhanced, treatment outcomes improve, and patient autonomy is strengthened. Reducing inequalities for vulnerable individuals remains a top priority for all of us.

Particular focus was placed on patients’ daily experiences, a key aspect of the therapeutic process. Support for mental resilience, self-management through digital applications, and strengthening self-confidence and self-efficacy were central messages of the intervention, highlighting the value of collaboration with healthcare professionals to achieve reliable, high-quality outcomes.

The discussion also highlighted the main challenges of digital health in Greece, including fragmented applications, difficulties in implementing hi-tech solutions in outdated systems, algorithmic complexity, and the need for transparency. Kapa3’s approach focuses on system interoperability, collection of high-quality patient data, and creation of services that truly meet patients’ needs, ensuring that technology serves people, not the other way around.

Kapa3’s participation in the conference reflects its ongoing commitment to contributing to the public discourse on the ethical, functional, and human-centered use of Artificial Intelligence and digital tools, always keeping the patient and quality care at the center.

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

Kapa3 in Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and Ethical Regulation

On 18 December 2025, Kapa3 participated in the event “Artificial Intelligence: Towards Regulation or Overregulation?”, on the occasion of the online monograph release “The European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (EU/2024/1689, Artificial Intelligence Act, AI Act): A First Constitutional-Ethical Perspective” by Fereniki Panagopoulou, an initiative of Syntagma Watch. Representing Kapa3 were co-founder of Kapa3, Evangelia Bista, and legal advisor of Kapa3, Zoi Thanopoulou, presenting the organization’s position and concerns regarding artificial intelligence.

During the discussion, Ms. Bista emphasized that the implementation of new technologies cannot ignore the functioning of the public sector: “What hardware will the new accounting system run on? Which government mechanisms will support it, and within what political-administrative culture? Can hi-tech solutions operate effectively in outdated systems with anachronistic practices?” She also highlighted the philosophical and ethical dimensions of AI: “How are intelligence and consciousness connected, and who decides what we can use and how?“

In addition, Kapa3’s core concerns regarding AI integration in healthcare were discussed: the need for transparency and accountability in all uses of digital tools, the protection of patients and the public from algorithmic discrimination, training healthcare professionals for safe and responsible use of technological solutions, and the importance of developing infrastructures and processes that ensure system interoperability and reliability. These concerns are reinforced by Kapa3’s experience in digital patient guidance and the development of support tools with ethical and legal awareness.

Author Fereniki Panagopoulou presented the main points of her monograph, focusing on the practical application of the AI Act: clearly defining responsibilities and limitations in algorithm use, ensuring transparency in AI-driven decisions, and protecting vulnerable groups. She also stressed the importance of aligning technology with ethical principles so that innovation serves citizens rather than efficiency alone. The monograph is available here.

The event highlighted the complex nature of AI-related issues, combining technical, legal, and ethical approaches. Kapa3 reiterated its commitment to contributing to public dialogue on artificial intelligence, protecting citizens’ rights, and promoting the safe and responsible use of digital tools in healthcare, for the benefit of patients and healthcare professionals.

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

Health at a Glance 2025: What the Latest OECD Findings Reveal About Greece

The annual Health at a Glance 2025 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presents the most recent comparative indicators on population health and health system performance across member countries.
The report examines key dimensions such as population health status, access to and quality of care, health inequalities, health spending, and workforce trends.

Internationally, the data show a partial post-pandemic recovery, while highlighting persistent challenges:

  • Obesity continues to rise (affecting 54% of adults).
  • Around 3 million premature deaths under the age of 75 could have been prevented through better prevention and care.
  • Spending on prevention has dropped back to only 3% of total health expenditure after peaking during the pandemic.
  • Health expenditure remains high, averaging 9.3% of GDP across OECD countries.

Within this broader landscape, the findings for Greece are particularly significant.

Key Findings for Greece
  1. Public satisfaction with health services: among the lowest in Europe

Across OECD countries, an average of 64% of citizens report being satisfied with the availability of high-quality health services.

In Greece, however, less than half of the population expresses satisfaction — one of the lowest rates among OECD members. Similar low levels are found in Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Chile, and Colombia.

  1. Unmet medical needs: some of the highest inequalities

Across 28 OECD countries, only 3.4% of people on average reported unmet medical needs due to cost, distance, or waiting times.

In Greece, this figure reaches 12.1%, among the highest in the OECD.

Additional findings include:

  • Over 8% of the population in Greece, Canada, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia reports unmet medical needs.
  • Greece presents some of the largest socio-economic inequalities in access.
  • Among people in the lowest income quintile in Greece, one in six does not receive the medical care they need.
  • Cost is the biggest barrier to accessing care.
  1. Health spending and out-of-pocket payments: heavy burden on households

Across OECD countries, out-of-pocket payments account for roughly 20% of all health expenditure.

In Greece, households cover more than one-third of total health spending — among the highest levels internationally, alongside Mexico, Chile, and Latvia.

  1. Remuneration of health professionals: low levels

Earnings for self-employed medical specialists exceed USD 300,000 in countries such as Germany, Austria, and South Korea.

Conversely:

  • Bulgaria reports the lowest remuneration levels.
  • Greece records earnings of USD 65,000–75,000 for salaried specialist doctors — comparable to Mexico, Colombia, and Costa Rica.
What these findings mean

The OECD data clearly illustrate that Greece faces:

  • A high financial burden on patients and households.
  • Barriers to access, particularly for lower-income groups.
  • Gaps in service availability and quality.
  • Deepening structural inequalities within the healthcare system.

For organisations such as Kapa3, these findings reaffirm the importance of:

  • providing continuous guidance and support to patients and caregivers,
  • advocating for equitable access to health services,
  • promoting policies that reduce financial and social inequalities in healthcare.

Sources

OECD – Health at a Glance 2025: OECD Indicators

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

Provision of High-Cost Medications During the Christmas Period

The National Organization for the Provision of Health Services (EOPYY) has announced the dates for the provision of high-cost medications during the Christmas period, allowing patients to be served at private pharmacies.

The announcement is accompanied by a table showing the availability of the medications, to facilitate smooth collection.

Due to the inability of some pharmaceutical and transportation companies to fully meet the demand during the holidays, requests submitted through the High-Cost Medications (HCM) platform will be processed according to the dates and medications listed in the attached table.

The option to collect HCMs from private pharmacies gives patients greater flexibility and reduces delays that may occur during the holidays. This ensures the continuous administration of their treatments while minimizing inconvenience and waiting times at public pharmacies.

You can view the table/list of medications by opening the attached PDF HERE.

Read the official EOPYY announcement here.

For a full overview of the general framework for HCM distribution and the most recent updates, you can read our related article here. It describes the ministerial decision (Government Gazette B’ 6333/27.11.2025), which updates the process for HCM distribution, now allowing collection from community private pharmacies. This decision replaces the previous 2020 framework and aims to ease patient access, reduce delays, and improve access to critical treatments.

During the Christmas period, Kapa3 remains by patients’ side, ensuring timely and safe access to their treatments. Through continuous information and support with practical matters, our goal is for patients to feel confidence and care, even during times of increased challenges such as the holidays.

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

The Visit of Love: a shared act of care and hope

In December 2025, Kapa3 took part once again the Visit of Love, an initiative by WinCancer that aims to bring warmth, presence, and emotional support to those who will spend the holiday season in oncology hospitals.

Once again, the response was deeply moving.

Cards and messages arrived from all over — through the post, by courier, in parcels both large and small, and sometimes delivered by hand. Each one carried a simple but powerful message: you are not alone.

Among them were cards written by preschool children, some with their very first letters, others expressed through drawings and colours. Messages full of innocence, light, and hope — “get well so we can eat Christmas cookies together.”

There were also messages from adults who had faced cancer in the past and now shared their words of encouragement together with their children, closing a circle of empathy and solidarity.

This action is addressed to everyone who will spend the holidays in oncology hospitals — patients, companions, and healthcare professionals alike — acknowledging the emotional weight of these days and the importance of human connection.

The process was intense, emotional, and, at times, chaotic.

Glitter and golden dust filled desks, clothes, and hair. While those traces will eventually disappear, the love, smiles, and hope that passed through our hands will remain.

For Kapa3, supporting initiatives like the Visit of Love is an essential part of our mission: to strengthen collaboration, promote solidarity, and contribute to actions that place human connection at the centre of care.

We warmly thank WinCancer for the trust and collaboration, as well as everyone who participated and offered a piece of their heart. Together, we can continue creating moments that matter.

Until next year, we hold on to the love, the hope, and the reminder that small gestures can make a big difference.

Text: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

International Migrants Day – 18 December

Health without borders: equal access to care as a human right

International Migrants Day is observed every year on 18 December, marking the date in 1990 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. The day is not only about population movement, but about fundamental rights, dignity, and—above all—equitable access to health care for all, regardless of origin or legal status.

Global Statistics

Globally, more than 281 million people currently live outside their country of birth, representing approximately 3.6% of the world’s population (International Organization for Migration – World Migration Report).

Migrants and refugees consistently face health inequalities driven by barriers such as language, limited health literacy, insecure housing and employment, and fear of exclusion from health systems. According to the World Health Organization, social determinants of health play a decisive role in access to prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, resulting in poorer health outcomes for migrant populations.

These inequalities are further compounded among particularly vulnerable groups, including children and young people, women, and individuals without stable legal status. In cases of serious or chronic illness—such as cancer—delayed diagnosis, interruptions in treatment and lack of psychosocial support can have a profound impact on disease outcomes and quality of life.

Situation in Greece

Within the Greek context, the country continues to serve as both a host and transit point for migrants and refugees. According to data from Eurostat and the Hellenic Statistical Authority, a significant proportion of the population residing in Greece consists of third-country nationals, while access to comprehensive health services remains uneven, particularly for young people and individuals with increased care needs. Despite existing legal provisions, practical barriers persist in prevention, continuity of care and psychosocial support.

In oncology, these challenges become even more pronounced. Cancer does not discriminate, yet access to care is often shaped by social and economic factors. The need for culturally sensitive, accessible and continuous health services is critical to ensure that no person is left unsupported when facing a cancer diagnosis.

In this context, Kapa3 has long worked to highlight social inequalities in health and to promote holistic cancer care for all people, regardless of background. In 2024, a targeted support initiative for refugees and migrants living with cancer was implemented through the programme “Cancer May Control your Body for a While, But Not Your Soul”, with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation.

The action focused on the regions of Macedonia and Thrace, addressing refugees and migrants in the area, with particular emphasis on the 15–24 age group, aiming to provide immediate primary care assistance and continuous support throughout the course of their treatment.

International Migrants Day is a reminder that health is a human right, not a privilege. Ensuring equitable access to care—especially for those most at risk—is a shared responsibility of institutions, health professionals and society as a whole.

A fair and healthy society is one that leaves no one behind.

Sources:

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

World Love Day – 14 December

Love as a foundation of wellbeing, resilience, and human connection

World Love Day, celebrated every year on 14 December, invites us to pause and reflect on the power of love in our everyday lives. Love — in all its forms — strengthens human connection, nurtures compassion, and builds more resilient communities. For people facing illness, caregiving responsibilities or personal hardship, love is not just an emotion; it is presence, support, and protection.

Love and human wellbeing

International evidence highlights that loving relationships and strong social bonds contribute to better mental health, lower stress levels, and greater resilience. Social support — whether from family, friends, or the wider community — is essential during moments of crisis and plays a key role in enhancing overall wellbeing.

Inequalities in access to care, support, and connection

Although love is universal in meaning, it is not universally experienced. Social and economic barriers, loneliness, and lack of supportive networks can limit a person’s access to care and emotional safety. World Love Day is a reminder that social cohesion requires continuous effort — especially for individuals and families living in vulnerable conditions.

The meaning of love in cancer care

For people living with cancer — and for those who care for them — love carries a profound significance. Emotional support has been shown to:

  • reduce anxiety and depression,

  • strengthen adherence to treatment,

  • improve communication with healthcare professionals,

  • and create a much-needed sense of stability and safety.

Love means no one should face illness alone.

The Greek context

In Greece, many patients and caregivers rely heavily on informal networks of support. While this often becomes a powerful source of strength, it can also create pressure when caregivers lack institutional support or face social and economic challenges. Strengthening a culture of care and solidarity is essential so that no family carries the burden by itself.

The role of Kapa3

At Kapa3, love is at the heart of our work. Through awareness activities, psychosocial support, networking opportunities, and advocacy for patients’ rights, we strive to create environments where love translates into care, safety, and dignity. We support families, empower caregivers, and amplify the voices of those who are often unheard.

Become a member or volunteer at Kapa3

Support our work and become part of a community that ensures no patient or caregiver is left alone. By joining Kapa3 as a member or volunteer, you help us build support networks, provide reliable information and psychosocial support, and promote dignity and compassion in practice.

Learn more about volunteering here: https://www.kapa3.gr/prosklisi-ethelonton-gia-to-kentro-kathodigisis-karkinopathon-kapa3/

After all, nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer. (Jimmy Doolittle)

If you would like to contribute, you can contact us by phone or email, using the subject line “Volunteering”.

Become a member of Kapa3:
https://www.kapa3.gr/gine-melos/

Contact us here:
https://www.kapa3.gr/epikoinonia/

Learn more about Kapa3 at:
www.kapa3.gr

A call to action

World Love Day invites us to express love openly, through actions and with consistency. It calls on us to support those who need care, to cultivate empathy, and to build a society where compassion and humanity are not exceptions, but core values.

Let’s not forget that love is a choice. It takes time. It requires patience and effort. It means showing up. It is kindness. It is not selfish, and it is not conditional.

Let us remember today — and every day — that love is an action. And that this action has the power to change lives.

After all,

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

International Universal Health Coverage Day – December 12

International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day is observed every year on December 12 to remind us that access to quality, affordable healthcare is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of just and sustainable societies. The United Nations established this day to strengthen global commitment so that all people, everywhere, can access the health services they need without financial hardship. (WHO)

Statistics

Universal health coverage is not just a goal. It is a central element of the United Nations  Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Despite progress in recent decades, the reality remains challenging. Approximately 4.6 billion people worldwide still lack access to essential health services. At the same time, 2.1 billion face financial hardship in accessing care. Finally 1.6 billion pushed into poverty due to health expenditures.

These statistics demonstrate that universal coverage remains far from fully achieved, with significant inequalities between countries and within societies: poorer populations, rural residents, people with lower education, and other vulnerable groups face much greater barriers to healthcare. (WHO – World Bank Report)

Situation in Greece

In Greece, although universal coverage exists in principle through the National Health System, access to care is not always equitable or complete. Only a small percentage of citizens report high satisfaction with service availability, while around 12.1% of people have unmet healthcare needs, a rate significantly higher than the OECD average. (OECD)

Out-of-pocket healthcare expenses particularly affect lower-income households. Nearly nearly 10% of households facing catastrophic health spending, forcing families to sacrifice essentials such as food or housing. (WHO – Health Care Greece)

These inequalities are not just numbers—they have real consequences for quality of life. For cancer patients, universal coverage means timely diagnosis, access to treatments, continuous monitoring, psychosocial support, and palliative care. Lack of comprehensive, accessible care can worsen disease outcomes and increase psychological and financial burden for patients and their families.

At Kapa3, we strive to ensure that no cancer patient or their loved ones feel alone. Through educational initiatives, experiential programs, psychosocial support, and guidance materials, we advocate for healthcare access that respects human dignity, life, and real needs.

Universal Health Coverage Day is not just a date—it is a call to action for broader access, reduced inequalities, and genuine support for all. Together, we can make meaningful change.

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

KAPA3 at the 18th Panhellenic Congress of Nutrition & Dietetics

The 18th Panhellenic Congress of Nutrition & Dietetics took place at the Athens Concert Hall from 4–6 December 2025, bringing together scientists and professionals to discuss the latest developments in nutrition under the central theme “Bridging Research and Practice.”

The Congress covered topics ranging from alternative proteins to eating disorders, through lectures, workshops, and roundtable discussions.

During the session “Co-Creating Health: Participatory Research with Cancer Patients on Nutrition and Mental Resilience”, held on Friday, 5 December in Hall MC3, participants included Andrea Paola Rojas Gil, Associate Professor of Biology – Biochemistry and Director of the Laboratory of Basic Health Sciences at the University of Peloponnese, a close KAPA3 collaborator in the field of nutrition, with the topic “Nutrition as a Tool to Support Treatment and Wellbeing: Comparison of Co-Design Programs for Oncology Patients in Greece and Colombia”; Evagelia Bista on behalf of KAPA3 with “Nutrition as a Social Determinant of Health: Inequalities, Education, Environment and Policies”; and Ioanna Sideri with “Mental Health and Strategies for Empowerment and Resilience”.

Nutrition as a Social Determinant of Health

Evagelia Bista emphasized that nutrition is not merely a personal choice but one of the most critical social determinants of health, directly affecting the prevention, progression, and quality of life of oncology patients. Nearly half of people worldwide lack access to healthy food, and socio-economic inequalities determine who can follow a nutritious diet. Greece is no exception: the economic crisis, the high cost of healthy foods, and the turn towards cheap, highly processed options have worsened the situation.

Key points highlighted in the presentation included:

  • Income, education level, and food availability determine dietary quality, with low-income households experiencing higher rates of obesity and chronic diseases.

  • A shift from the Mediterranean diet towards Western-style options due to economic and social factors.

  • A double burden for vulnerable populations: undernutrition and obesity coexist, particularly affecting those facing food insecurity.

  • Impacts on oncology patients: adequate nutrition is crucial for treatment tolerance, recovery, and quality of life, yet many patients face financial and treatment-related barriers.

Ms. Bista presented KAPA3’s actions with a focus on nutritional support and the participatory approach applied in online Experiential Sessions, conducted in collaboration with the University of Peloponnese. These sessions continue a series dedicated to holistic care for body and mind, emphasizing both nutrition and mental health for oncology patients and their caregivers.

KAPA3 underlines that nutrition cannot be seen as an individual behavior alone but as the result of social, economic, and environmental factors. Reducing inequalities and ensuring access to healthy food for all is essential for better health outcomes, especially in oncology care.

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

GD2: A Critical Biomarker and Therapeutic Target – What the Latest Evidence Shows

New scientific data highlight GD2 — a glycolipid biomarker expressed in specific cancer cells — as one of the most promising therapeutic targets in modern oncology. A recent review published in an international scientific journal brings together the latest findings on the use of GD2 in immunotherapies, CAR-T cell treatments, monoclonal antibodies, and other innovative approaches.

What is GD2 and why does it matter?

GD2 is a molecule known as disialoganglioside-2, found in high concentrations on the surface of certain cancer cells. This makes it particularly valuable as a target for personalized immunotherapies, as treatments can “recognize” and destroy GD2-positive cells while sparing healthy tissues.

Cancers with high GD2 expression include:
• Neuroblastoma
• Osteosarcoma
• Melanoma
• Breast cancer (triple-negative in some cases)
• Certain lung cancers
• Rare pediatric tumors

In neuroblastoma — one of the most common pediatric cancers — GD2-directed antibody therapy has already improved survival in high-risk patients.

The new scientific review maps the current progress in GD2-targeted therapies, highlighting the technologies showing the strongest clinical potential. GD2-directed monoclonal antibodies, already effective in children with neuroblastoma, are evolving into more precise and safer versions, aiming to expand their use in adult tumors as well. The review also presents updated data from clinical trials of GD2-directed CAR-T cells: despite challenges such as toxicity, tumor escape, and limited persistence, newer CAR-T generations demonstrate improved safety, deeper penetration into solid tumors, and especially promising outcomes in pediatric patients.

The review further examines combination immunotherapies that pair GD2 targeting with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immune checkpoint inhibitors, offering enhanced effectiveness against resistant tumors. Finally, emerging platforms are described — including bispecific antibodies, “smart” nanoparticle-based strategies, and drug-delivery technologies that target only GD2-positive cells — expanding the therapeutic landscape and opening new avenues for future applications.

What does this mean for patients?

GD2-targeted therapy is no longer theoretical — it is already a reality in certain pediatric cancers and is rapidly expanding into other tumor types.

Key benefits for patients include:
• greater precision with reduced toxicity
• the potential for highly individualized treatment based on tumor profile
• new hope for tumors that remain difficult to treat with existing methods
• improved survival prospects, especially for children

For pediatric and young adult patients — a group with historically limited and often highly burdensome treatment options — GD2-directed therapies represent a significant step forward.

Despite the important progress made, several challenges remain. These include side effects such as neuropathic pain, tumor resistance or escape from targeting, the high cost and limited availability of advanced treatments, and the need for large, multi-center clinical trials to produce more robust and generalizable data. Still, research activity is intensifying, with dozens of clinical studies currently ongoing worldwide.

Within this evolving landscape, Kapa3 remains committed to providing accurate, accessible, and compassionate information to patients and families, particularly those facing severe, rare, or pediatric cancers. Advances in GD2-targeted therapies are opening new pathways for children and young people with limited options today , showcasing the power and potential of immunotherapy. At the same time, they highlight the urgent need for equitable access to innovative treatments for patients in Greece.

Kapa3 will continue to follow scientific developments closely and keep the community informed in a clear, reliable, and human-centered way.

Sources: Here

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3