AGIGMA ZOIS
CANCER? And now what?
OUR AIM
Over the last 10 years, due to the financial crisis, in Greece, medical support needs have grown. Our aim is to support cancer patients, while trying to achieve optimal survival and living conditions for them.
OUR MISSION
To offer medical, psychological and social support to cancer patients and their families.
AGIGMA is supported through the personal work of our members and our precious network of volunteers.
AGIGMA supports cancer patients through a crucial and vital period of their lives, as many patients do not know who to turn to, how to access care and how to harness aid in order to maximize treatment outcomes.
We aim to strengthen the individual in their critical time of need to help improve outcomes in treatment by providing emotional support and encouragement.
We believe that there is no such phrase as “I can not” and we ought to try.
INNOVATION
With the appropriate care and when better quality of life is ensured the daily expenses for the disease can be reduced.
Prevention and knowledge are the most valuable weapons against cancer, thus we offer a 2nd opinion free of charge.
Nevertheless, our services “Assistance at home” are aiming to prevent cancer patients exposure to hospital infections and to reduce the possibility of social exclusion.
It is not just living that matters. Quality of life and well-being is what makes the difference.
OUR WORK
Initially, when we started, we had to deal with chaos, as there were too many fronts to confront with, and too many needs… However, we focused on 2 issues, the Medical and the Supportive.
Medical Part
We, now, have agreements with prominent oncologists and oncology centers in Greece and abroad in order to be able to provide a 2nd opinion free of charge.
Greece
Agreement with private oncologists, radiotherapeutic, medical diagnostic centers (Iatropolis, Vioiatriki,…) and the Medical University of Athens (Pathology department)
USA
Agreement with oncologists in Houston and New York
UK
Royal Marsden Hospital
Germany
INI – International Neuroscience Institute Hannover
Italy
Agreement with oncologists in Rome and Milan
Sweden
Working on a collaboration with Karolinska University Hospital (not yet confirmed)
Hitherto 7 patients have taken a 2nd opinion from abroad and 41 from Greece (free of charge).
In addition, we focused on providing the required medicines for chemotherapy to either poor or without any medical insurance patients. We also provided the required medicines for chemotherapy to patients, when there was a shortage in the Greek market due to the financial crisis.
This was achieved in collaboration with:
Pharmacy of the Doctors of the world
Social pharmacies
Social mission’s clinic
Metropolitan’s social clinic
Doctors without borders
Vianex (pharmaceutical company)
Association of cancer patients
Pain clinics
So far, we have provided chemo medicines to 8 needy patients and we spotted the required chemo medicine for 21 patients in times when there was a shortage in the market.
Supportive part
Our concern is to:
Inform the public on prevention and treatment issues
Ensure the medical coverage of poor patients
Apply forms and relevant papers to public authorities for financial support or pension issues on behalf of cancer patients
Provide assistance at home
Support patients during their hospitalization
Deliver chemo medicines and medical supplies to isolated villages/islands
Collaborate with the public Authority for Rights protection of patients
AWARDS – CERTIFICATIONS
AGIGMA was awarded the Voluntary Action’s Silver Prize in the Health and Welfare field, at the 2016 Voluntary Festival by Skywalker.
AGIGMA was among the 14 finalists of the Social Business Excellence Awards 2015, which took place under the auspices of the Ministry for Development & Competitiveness and the British Council.
AGIGMA is a certified First Aid Training Center.
UPCOMING PLANS
At the moment, we study the creation process of a tumor registry database in which all medical data will be stored (upon patients written approval) in a manner which protects patient confidentiality. Remote based doctors will have access (with patient’s written approval) in order to provide their opinion and to track records.
So far we have supported over 330 families and we continue…
AGIGMA ZOIS
20c M. Botsari Street
145 61 Kifissia
Athens – Greece
Tel.: +30 215 5353 577
Cell: +30 6948 8070 77
e-mail: info@agigmazois.gr
web: www.agigmazois.gr
Piraeus Bank
Account Number: 5060 070 835 496
ΙΒΑΝ
GR 0801 7206 0000 5060 0708 35496