The Papanikolaou Institute among the 8 Public Legal Entities of Municipalities across Greece that are not abolished

The Papanikolaou Institute maintains its status following a decision by the Ministry of the Interior to exempt it from the provisions of Law 5056/2023, which stipulated the abolition of all municipal legal entities.

Specifically, according to Government Gazette 6719/30.11.2023, Issue B of the Ministry of the Interior, decision–request no. 237/9-11-2023 of the Municipal Council of Kymi-Aliveri was taken into consideration for the exemption of the Public Legal Entity under the name “Foundation for the Documentation, Information and Research on Cancer ‘GEORGIOS N. PAPANIKOLAOU’” from its automatic abolition.

It should be reminded that, according to Article 27 of Law 5056/2023 (Government Gazette 163/06.10.2023, Issue A), public legal entities established in any manner by first-level Local Government Organizations (OTA) are automatically abolished on December 31, 2023, and their responsibilities are transferred to the Municipality. However, the government recognized that in the case of 8 public legal entities and 8 welfare organizations across the country, their activity—due to their specialized field, performance and wider recognition—justifies their exemption from the application of the law.

We warmly thank the Deputy Minister, Mr. Theodoros Livanios, for this decision and for recognizing the important work of the Institute in highlighting the legacy of G.N. Papanikolaou and in providing more effective information to citizens.

It should be noted that the purpose of the Institute is to provide information on cancer to citizens, professionals and health organizations. Throughout its years of operation, the Institute has played a significant role in informing citizens about the importance of cancer prevention, as well as in disseminating worldwide the contribution of G.N. Papanikolaou, through collaborations with scientific and social bodies from all over Greece and abroad. At the same time, in Papanikolaou’s residence in Kymi, the Papanikolaou Museum is being created, both in physical and digital form.