Greece

Greece with a population of over 10 million is a member of the EU since 1981. Greece has a mixed health system comprising of public (state funded) and private health system. Public health system comprises of 138 Hospitals including 11 University hospitals. The main corps of private health system comprises of 182 health units, ranging from tertiary centers to small private clinics.

Population: 10.4 million
ESCP members: 80
National Representative: Ioannis Virlos, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, General Secretary of Greek Society of Coloproctology, FRCSEd., FRCS (Gen Surg), FEBS-CR, MD, MSc, DIC.

COLOPROCTOLOGY AS A DISCIPLINE IN GREECE

Surgical Societies

There are two established societies in the field of Coloproctology in Greece. This report reflects the scientific activities of both societies over the last 5 years.

GSCP

The newly founded Society (2018) is Greek Society of Coloproctology (GSCP) and has 289 members. The majority of members of GSCP are colorectal surgeons or surgeons with special interest in the surgical management of diseases of colon, rectum and anus. The official journal of GSCP is Colorectal Disease. GSCP has developed strong ties with ESCP, by organizing scientific activities supported by ESCP based faculties, including a ESCP Regional Masterclass. Since 2020 GSCP has organized:

A 2nd series of webinars is currently planned.

The 3rd Athens Coloproctology Meeting themed “Updates on Colon Cancer”, an ESCP listed event, is planned to take place in Athens on 24-25/4/2026. This meeting is supported by a strong – ESCP based - International Faculty of 17 experts.

HSC

The earlier founded Society (2000) is Hellenic Society of Coloproctology (HSC) and has 190 members. Since 2020 HSC has organized:

HSC is planning a national meeting in February 2026.

Other Societies and Study Groups

Coloproctology is also a chapter of the: Hellenic Surgical Society, Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology, Hellenic Society of Surgical Oncology.

The Colo-Rectal Cancer Study Group (CRC-SG), chapter of Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Study Group (GIC-SG), represents a non-profit organization, which has organized masterclasses and webinars in Gastrointestinal Cancer, including Colorectal Cancer. It has also organized 11 international meetings on Colorectal Cancer, called “Colorectal Games”, with the latest meetings taking place in 2021(9th), 2023(10th) and 2025(11th).

Hellenic Study Group for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, represents an active study group for IBD, which was founded in 2001.

Guidelines

In 2016, the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncologists (HeSMO) has produced, using the Delphi methodology, for the first time guidelines for the management of colorectal cancer. These 4-part guidelines, published in the Annals of Gastroenterology, included guidelines for the management of colon cancer, management of rectal cancer, postoperative chemotherapy in colon cancer and management of metastatic disease.

TRAINING IN COLOPROCTOLOGY

Coloproctology forms part of the general surgery specialty training curriculum. In Greece to date there is no specific sub-specialty training program in Coloproctology in the form of Fellowship, neither during nor post-surgical residency training.

Nevertheless, overseas Fellowships in Colorectal Surgery have been offered by the Greek Society of Coloproctology while a newly founded Academic Clinical Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery by Athens University is established and will start soon.

Fellowships

GSCP

Greek Society of Coloproctology has established two 6-12 months Colorectal Surgery Fellowships in collaboration with teaching hospitals in the UK. These Fellowships are advertised annually by GSCP Fellowship Committee and offered to junior GSCP members, who have finished their surgical training, in an open competition process:

Moreover, a Greek Society of Coloproctology Robotic Colorectal Fellowship in collaboration with Colchester Hospital, UK, is currently under formation and due to launch in 2026.

University of Athens

A newly founded Academic Clinical Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery (Greece’s first) is currently established by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. This is a 2-year fellowship, which will offer structured training to 2 fellows at each time and will be carried out in two University Hospitals: 1) Hippocration University Hospital (Supervisor: Prof of General and Colorectal Surgery G. Theodoropoulos, GSCP Vice-President) and 2) Aretaieion University Hospital (Supervisor: Prof of Surgery I. Papakonstantinou, former National Representative for Greece). Application process for these Fellowships will commence soon.

Postgraduate Training

Thessaly University

There are 2 Postgraduate Training Programs, organized by the Medical School of Thessaly University:

Athens University

Colorectal Surgery forms part of a 2-year MSc program of Athens University on “New Technologies in Gastrointestinal Surgery-Minimally Invasive Techniques- Bariatric Surgery”

Hands-on courses

“Hands-on” structured courses in Colorectal Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery are offered (since 2017) by the NoDE Institute, an independent non-profit organization. This organization offers 2 types of courses in colorectal surgery:

 RESEARCH

 FUTURE PLANS