An environmental health information system - assessment of the situation in Greece

Presented are the results, with emphasis on the situation in Greece, of the ENHIS-2 project “Establishment of Environment and Health Information System Supporting Policy Making”. The information system is based on a set of Environmental Health Indicators developed and updated by the project, organized according to the four WHO CEHAPE (Children’s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe) Regional Priority Goals (RPGs). In total 30 indicators have been developed and calculated using data from international and national databases. The outcome of the indicator piloting and the collection of information on relevant policies is used to make a preliminary assessment for Greece of the effects of environmental agents to population health in general and to children’s health in particular. The preliminary conclusions are that environmental problems in Greece are similar to those experienced by other European countries. Regarding legislation and policies, Greece as a European member state has a well established legislative framework based mainly on the ratification of E.C. Directives. There is however a lack in more specific policies and action plans , and a lack of a well organized system for inspecting, monitoring and reporting environmental health problems.