The inauguration of the new, unified, and fully digitized Onassis Hospital is a milestone in the history of healthcare in Greece. A hospital for everyone—for public, equal, and modern care.
On Tuesday, October 21, in a historic moment for the healthcare sector in Greece, the new Onassis Hospital, with an exclusive donation from the Onassis Foundation. With the delivery of the new building, the new hospital comprises of Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, which has been completely renovated and equipped with new state-of-the-art medical equipment, το Οnassis National Transplant Center,which acts as a catalyst for the development of organ donation and transplants in Greece, and the Οnassis Children’s Hospital, which is dedicated to pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiac surgery, and transplants for pediatric patients.
Existing and new infrastructure form a new, unified ecosystem that develops and operates in a modern digital environment, effectively making Onassis Hospital the first fully digitized hospital in Greece. The new infrastructure is immediately operational and accessible to the public.
The inauguration was attended by the President of the Republic, Mr. Konstantinos Tasoulas, the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and a host of other guests, including government ministers, members of parliament, secretaries-general of ministries, prominent members of the medical community, academics, university professors, heads of patient associations, doctors, nurses, and employees of the Onassis Hospital, as well as members of the boards of directors of the Onassis Hospital and the Onassis Foundation.
ART AT THE ONASSIS HOSPITAL
At the new Onassis Hospital, health meets culture, as contemporary works by Greek artists from different generations belonging to the Onassis Collection—the art collection of the Onassis Foundation—fill its spaces. Each artwork offers a sense of calm and empowerment, transforming the hospital into a place where care and art coexist.
From Georgios Bonanos’ bust of Hippocrates—a symbolic welcome to the space—and Alexandra Athanassiades’ “Thoraxes” to Yannis Pappas’ “Rod of Asclepius” and Jannis Varelas’ two human-centered works: a monumental painting depicting human figures as an emotional landscape, and a six-meter sculpture symbolizing the human figure in waiting, a single-line stroke forming a caricature-like face. Visitors, patients, and their relatives pass by them, discover their references, and linger close to them for courage, relief, and release.
The murals displayed on the ground floor of the new building and on the floor of the Onassis Children’s Unit were created by Theodoros Koveos.
“THE ROOM OF STRENGTH”. A LIGHT AND SOUND INSTALLATION
At the Onassis Hospital, next to the waiting area, there is a room unlike any other. Visual artist Nikomachi Karakonstanoglou has created a space for those moments when one needs a breath to carry on, a moment to reflect, a respite to rise up again. It was conceived thinking of the demanding hours of doctors and staff on duty, for visitors seeking relief from anxiety for their loved ones, and for patients who want to stop for a moment and consider what an examination, a surgery, or a battle for their life means to them.
At the center of the room stands a crystal, sculpted into the shape of a human heart — a symbol of strength, serenity, and beauty. Lighting by Eliza Alexandropoulou traces its own path, echoing the hours of day and night, shifting slowly like another sun that sets and rises.
The soundscape, created by Afroditi Panagiotakou and Manolis Manousakis, serves the need for quiet and solace, offering respite from the noise of the hospital environment and transporting visitors to moments of ease. It weaves in sounds of nature from Messinia and Epirus; cicadas, scops owls, and gentle sounds of the sea to soothe the mind.
Leave A Comment