EAU Patient Office collaborates with the Greek Patient Office

At the EAU Meets National Societies Meeting, the EAU’s Patient Office enjoyed fruitful cross-collaboration with the Hellenic Urology HUA Society (the Greek Patient Office), represented by Dr. Christos Zabaftio (GR). As the first national patient office of its kind in Greece and one of the first across Europe, the development of the Greek Patient Office represents a significant step towards strengthening the connection between urologists and patients at a local level. The meeting between the EAU Patient Office and the Greek Patient Office identified common strategy areas for both groups to collaborate on in the future.

The EAU and Greek Patient Offices spoke about the clear needs that shape the patient care mission: the absence of structured, accessible patient support in urology and the growing spread of misleading health information online. The Greek Patient Office is aligned with the EAU Patient Office in its goals to offer patient-centred care, give reliable evidence-based information, and enhance shared decision-making between clinicians and patients.

These goals also include the support and education of patients, the development of public health campaigns focused on prevention and early detection, collaboration with patient advocacy groups, and the promotion of transparency and trust in medical communication. By encouraging dialogue, Dr. Zabaftio emphasised that the Greek Patient Office empowers patients to better understand their conditions and participate actively in therapeutic choices.

At Noordwijk, the Greek and EAU Patient Offices also spoke about the exciting recent development, the Patient Information website. At the European level, the EAU Patient Office has made strides in improving accessibility and information quality through the launch of this new patient-focused website. Designed specifically with patients in mind, the site offers clear, layperson-friendly information on a range of urological conditions, diagnostics, and treatments. It features a user-friendly interface, a built-in chatbot for basic queries, and is structured to guide visitors in an approachable, supportive manner. Importantly, the site content is being translated into multiple languages to increase accessibility across Europe.

The EAU Patient Office was pleased to share at the National Societies meeting that Greek is one of the first languages selected for translation. This will mean that Greek-speaking patients will soon have access to high-quality, culturally relevant information in their native language, reinforcing the goals of the national Patient Office and creating a seamless connection between local and European-level patient support efforts.

The National Societies Meeting in Noordwijk was an incredible opportunity for the EAU Patient Office to share the values and ideals of patient care and advocacy with international societies. At a European-level platform, the EAU Patient Office supports national organisations by offering guidance, validated educational materials, and opportunities for cooperation across borders. The Greek Patient Office will contribute to and benefit from this wider network, ensuring the consistency of information while respecting national health structures and cultural contexts. This cooperation enables a two-way exchange: while Greece adopts best practices developed within the EAU framework, it also brings unique perspectives, experiences, and public engagement models that enrich the wider European effort.

One such example is the “Check Your Balls!” campaign, launched by the Greek Patient Office in collaboration with FIBA Europe during the U20 Men’s Basketball Championship. By leveraging sport and youth engagement, the campaign raised awareness of testicular cancer and self-examination, reaching thousands of young people across Europe. The project portrayed how national offices can create innovative, high-impact outreach while still being rooted in clinical accuracy and patient advocacy.

The EAU Patient Office recognises the Greek Patient Office as a model of what can be achieved when national societies invest in structured patient outreach. We look forward to continued collaboration and to supporting the Greek Patient Office in its mission to improve the lives of urological patients across Greece— one conversation, one campaign, and one informed patient at a time.

Check out the Hellenic Urology HUA Society and the EAU Patient Office on social media for more details.