Dear Colleagues,

The Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit is a well-established Unit in the Department of Radiology of Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens. It is worth noting that it is the only organized University Palliative Care Unit in Greece. The unit was established at the end of 1990 and since it's official operation in 1993 provides services both to inpatients and outpatients with advanced malignant or non-malignant disease, from all over Greece. It consists of a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals: doctors, nurses, psychologists, a social worker and a secretary in a full time schedule. The unit collaborates with different specialists from Areteion hospital (oncologists, radiotherapists, surgeons etc.) and also with oncology departments from other hospitals.

On the 19^th of January 2004, we held the inauguration of a new, autonomous, University building, where the Unit expands its operation and services. This important development was honoured by the presence of prominent members of the State, the Minister of Health, members of the Parliament, the Deanships from the University of Athens, and eminent figures of the Athens's social life.  It continues to offer palliative care to Areteion Hospital's patients in its new address, 27 Korinthias street, and includes the following:

· In the 1^st floor an out-patient's unit;
· In the 2^nd floor a day care unit;
· In the 3^rd floor an academic research area (under development); and
· In the 4^th floor is an area, in which seminars and educational programs are held. Students from the school of medicine (of the 4^th, 5^th, 6^th year of University education) are being taught in order to expand their knowledge in the area of pain relief and palliative care.
· Finally, in the 5^th floor is the installation of Jenny Karezi Foundation's office, a non-profit organization. The intention of the foundation is the progress of palliative care in Greece and also the financial support of the unit.

The unit is planning collaboration with the Municipality of Athens, the largest in Greece, with over 40,000,000 citizens. The goal is to expand and provide in-home palliative care by cooperating with the community medical centers. Our aim is to continue to provide optimum patient care and extend the discipline of Palliative Care in Greece.

Best regards,

Kyriaki Mystakidou, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor in Palliative Medicine
Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit

University of Athens