3 September 2013
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 millionESCP members: 80National 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:
4 national meetings (1st in 2020, 2nd in 2021, 3rd in 2023 and 4th in 2025)
1 ESCP Masterclass (15th Regional Masterclass: Techniques and Technology in Colorectal Surgery - April 2025)
1 Joint Symposium with ESCP (during International Forum of 1st day of 2025 national meeting)
2 International meetings (1st Athens Coloproctology meeting: a joint meeting with UK TPFS on Functional Bowel & Pelvic Disorders for Colorectal and Pelvic Surgeon in 2022 & 2nd Athens Coloproctology Meeting on Rectal and Anal Cancer in 2024). The latter meeting was ESCP listed.
1 Robotic Surgery Introduction 2-day simulation workshop (pre-congress event for the 2nd Athens Coloproctology meeting) in collaboration with ISLE Academy (training hub facility in Athens, Greece)
1 Radiology workshop by Professor G. Brown (during 2nd Athens Coloproctology Meeting)
1 Pathology workshop by Professor N. West (during 2nd Athens Coloproctology Meeting)
1 two -day cadaveric course in laparoscopic colorectal surgery in collaboration with Athens University (November 2023)
1st GSCP-HSG series of three webinars (July, September & December 2025). This ESCP listed educational event represents a joint project of GSCP and Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology (HSG) aiming to standardize clinical practice and will be followed by a joint round table session during the Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology 2025 national meeting.
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:
two national meetings (8th national meeting in 2021 & 9th national meeting in 2023)
3 one-day workshops
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:
A Fellowship based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK
A Fellowship based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
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:
Postgraduate Training Program in Colorectal Surgery (established in 2017)
Postgraduate Training Program in pelvic floor disorders (established in 2018)
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:
The C.LA.S.S. courses are offered 4 times per year and comprise mainly of: human cadaveric dissection labs, live surgery, tips & tricks video, surgical simulation training and problem-based learning.
The C.RO.S.S. training program is designed for tutoring in Colorectal Robotic Surgery. The course is addressed to surgeons who are experienced in colorectal and laparoscopic surgery and includes hands-on robotic surgery simulation, interactive tips and tricks sessions and live colorectal robotic surgery observation.
RESEARCH
HERCORES study (Hellenic Registry of Colorectal Surgery): Ongoing national study aiming to recruit 1000 patients undergoing colorectal surgery. It has currently recruited more than 500 patients. The Principal Investigator (PI) of the study is the Junior Committee of GSCP.
The NEARCHO Trial (Safety Study on Neo-Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Advanced Rectal Cancer) and MECCLANT-C Trial (Prospective comparative multi-centre trial on various bowel preparation regimes for elective colon surgery) have stopped recruiting and have been terminated.
The MECCLANT-R Trial (Prospective comparative multi-centre trial on various bowel preparation regimes for elective rectal surgery) is still recruiting patients. The Principal Investigator (PI) of the study is the Colo-Rectal Cancer Study Group (CRC-SG), chapter of Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Study Group (GIC-SG).
FUTURE PLANS
Establishment of a national registry for Colorectal Cancer and optimization of outcomes in Colorectal Cancer.
Establishment of further national colorectal training Fellowships according to ERCP standards
Establishment of national guidelines steering groups for the treatment of diseases of colon, rectum and the anus.
Organization of national collaborative studies, including randomized controlled trials.
Encouragement of Greek colorectal surgeons to participate to research collaborative studies and ESCP initiatives.
