7th Health of Region Crete

The 7th Healthcare Region of Crete (7HRC) is the regional public authority of the Greek National Health System (NHS) responsible for the planning, organisation, coordination, supervision and continuous improvement of public healthcare services across the Region of Crete. As one of the seven Regional Health Authorities in Greece, 7HRC acts as the intermediary governance level between the Ministry of Health and healthcare providers, ensuring the effective implementation of national health policies while responding to regional healthcare needs through evidence-based planning and innovation.

The organisation manages an integrated public healthcare network, comprising 8 hospitals (including one University Hospital), 19 Health Centres, 12 Local Health Units (TOMYs), 137 Regional Medical Centres, and 42 public mental health facilities, serving a resident population of more than 620,000 inhabitants, in addition to millions of annual visitors. The regional healthcare system employs more than 5,500 healthcare professionals and administrative staff, representing a highly diverse multidisciplinary workforce.

7HRC is responsible for coordinating healthcare provision across primary, secondary and tertiary care, promoting integrated and community-based healthcare services, strengthening prevention and public health, supporting mental health reform, improving quality of care and patient safety, and advising the Ministry of Health on regional health planning, workforce development and service transformation.

A strategic priority of the organisation is the development of human capital and workforce skills. 7HRC designs, coordinates and supports continuous professional development, lifelong learning and multidisciplinary education programmes for healthcare professionals across all healthcare settings. Through close collaboration with universities, vocational education and training (VET) providers, research organisations, professional associations and international organisations, it contributes to the development of innovative training programmes, competence frameworks and capacity-building initiatives addressing emerging healthcare needs.

The organisation has invested significantly in digital transformation and operates an advanced integrated health information ecosystem connecting all public healthcare providers in Crete. This digital infrastructure supports clinical and administrative processes, facilitates secure health data exchange, enables population health management, and provides real-world data for service evaluation, policy development and research. The digital ecosystem also supports innovative educational methodologies, simulation-based learning, remote training and competency assessment.

7HRC has extensive experience in the design, implementation and coordination of European and international collaborative projects addressing integrated care, digital health, health workforce development, public health, quality improvement and healthcare innovation. It has participated in numerous EU-funded initiatives, including TEAMCARE, CIRCE Joint Action, eCREAM, GAPP, iPAAC, and other projects focusing on integrated care pathways, digital innovation, competency development and health system transformation.

The organisation has developed a broad regional innovation ecosystem involving higher education institutions, VET providers, municipalities, healthcare providers, research centres, digital innovation hubs, civil society organisations and employers. This ecosystem enables the co-design, piloting and validation of innovative educational programmes, competency frameworks and service models in real-life healthcare environments.