George Zerdilas: Health is a strategic pillar of Athens Riviera’s new identity
George Zerdilas, Chief Managing Director of the Athens Medical Group, speaks about the role of health in the new growth identity of Attica, the major investments in The Ellinikon, and the vision of creating an international healthcare hub in Athens.
- 08/10/2026 16:49
THE ATHENS RIVIERA is at the heart of an extensive transformation that aspires to redefine Athens’ position on the international map of modern metropolises. Major investments in infrastructure, tourism, housing and urban regeneration are creating a new growth ecosystem, where quality of life and advanced services are becoming critically important. In this environment, health no longer functions as an isolated service, but as an integral element of the overall experience of residents, visitors and investors.
Athens Medical Group is actively participating in this new era, investing in modern infrastructure, digital services, cutting-edge technologies and new patient-centered care models. The Healthcare Park in The Ellinikon, one of the most important healthcare investments associated with the Athens Riviera project, plays a central role in this strategy. The goal is to create an integrated health and wellness ecosystem of international standards, which will integrate advanced medical services, artificial intelligence, prevention, wellbeing and medical tourism.
In his interview with the White Paper, George Zerdilas, Chief Managing Director of the Athens Medical Group, explains how health can be a key factor of international competitiveness for Athens, which investments are considered critical for the future of healthcare in Greece, and how Attica can evolve into a world-class destination for innovation, wellness and high-quality health services
This year’s White Paper examines the coastline of Attica as a single growth ecosystem. How does health fit into this new identity of the Athens Riviera?
Health is a fundamental pillar of the new identity of the Athens Riviera. A modern international metropolitan ecosystem cannot be based exclusively on tourism, residential or commercial investments; it requires the development of high-level health infrastructure, capable of ensuring quality of life, safety and seamless access to advanced medical services.
The Athens Riviera is being transformed into an integrated destination that harmoniously combines residence, work, tourism, wellness and sustainable development. In this new model, health does not simply function supportively but emerges as a strategic pillar. It is a key element of the overall life experience and a crucial factor in attracting international investments, high-quality tourism and highly specialized human resources.
The Athens Medical Group, through its strategic and exclusive partnership with LAMDA Development in the health sector in The Ellinikon, actively participates in shaping this new reality. Our goal is to create a new healthcare destination model, fully integrated into the urban fabric and the needs of a modern metropolis.
What is the role of the Athens Medical Group in shaping the future of Attica, in a period of major investing the future of Attica, in a period of major investments and urban regeneration?
Our role is twofold: on the one hand, to provide leading health services and, on the other hand, to act as a development catalyst for the new era of Attica.
Major urban regenerations create new requirements in terms of infrastructure, population coverage and quality of services. Health is one of the most critical pillars of this new environment. The Athens Medical Group has the know-how, experience and operational dynamics to respond to these needs with long-term planning.
We invest in new units, advanced medical technology, digital services, specialized centers of excellence, and new patient-centered care models. At the same time, we strengthen the interconnection of health with prevention, wellness and personalized medicine.
The future of Attica requires resilient and internationally competitive healthcare infrastructure. Our goal is for the Group to become a benchmark not only for Greece but also for the entire wider region of Southeastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Healthcare Park in The Ellinikon is one of the most important healthcare investments associated with the Athens Riviera project. What is the strategic vision behind this development?
The strategic vision is to create an integrated, world-class health and wellness ecosystem, which will redefine the way healthcare services are provided in Greece.
The Healthcare Park in The Ellinikon is not being designed as a conventional hospital unit but as a modern “healthcare hub” that will integrate advanced diagnostic and therapeutic services, specialized centers of excellence, digital and AI-enabled applications, integrated prevention and well-being services, as well as international medical tourism services.
Our collaboration with LAMDA Development enables us to place health at the core of one of the most important urban regeneration projects in Europe. This creates a unique opportunity to design from scratch the healthcare ecosystems of the future, with an emphasis on sustainability, technology, patient experience and interoperability of services. At the same time, this specific project contributes significantly to the strengthening of the international image of Athens as a modern “smart” city that invests strategically in quality of life and modern infrastructure.
Athens is attempting to reposition itself internationally as a destination of high quality of life and modern services. What role can the health sector play in this transition?
The health sector can be one of the most important factors of differentiation of Athens internationally. Today, cities that attract investments, international visitors and human capital are those that offer a comprehensive quality of life. In this context, access to reliable, advanced and internationally competitive health services is a key criterion for evaluating a modern metropolis.
Athens has significant comparative advantages, such as high-level medical staff, strategic geographical location, favorable climate, strong tourism brand and, now, significant investments in modern infrastructure. The combination of these elements can elevate it to a regional hub for healthcare services, medical tourism and longevity/wellness services.
Athens Medical Group seeks to actively contribute to this transition, developing services that address both the Greek market and international patients seeking high-quality care in a modern, safe and people-centered environment.
In an era where technology is rapidly transforming healthcare, what investments do you consider most critical for the future of healthcare services in Greece?
The most critical investments concern three main axes: technology, data, and patient experience. First, the use of artificial intelligence, digital health and advanced analytics will radically change the way patients are diagnosed, monitored and managed. The transition to data-driven healthcare systems is already underway internationally.
Second, significant investments are required in modern medical technology equipment, robotic surgery, precision medicine and personalized therapies. Patients are now seeking more accurate, less invasive and more personalized services.
Third, of equal importance is the investment in the patient experience. The future of healthcare is not only about medical practice but also about the patient journey, speed of service, digital connectivity, prevention and continuity of care at every stage.
The Athens Medical Group invests systematically in all three of these areas, with the aim of shaping a healthcare model worthy of the most advanced international standards.
Looking at Attica ten years from now, how do you envision the relationship among health, infrastructure and the overall growth identity of the region?
In the next decade, health will have evolved into one of the most critical indicators of quality, resilience and international competitiveness for Attica. It will not be an autonomous service sector, but an integral part of the overall growth identity of the region, along with transportation, housing, tourism, technology, the environment and the overall life experience of citizens and visitors.
For more than four decades, the Athens Medical Group has been actively involved in shaping the future of healthcare in Greece, consistently investing in infrastructure, innovation and new models of care. The Healthcare Park in The Ellinikon expresses precisely this philosophy, a more modern, extroverted and human-centered approach, connecting health with prevention, well-being, longevity and overall quality of life.
With the strong development momentum currently taking shape in Attica, the region has the potential to evolve into an international benchmark for advanced healthcare services. Our goal is for Attica to establish itself as a world-class destination for innovation and sustainable development. In this process, the Athens Medical Group, with the Healthcare Park in The Ellinikon as a pillar, is at the forefront, defining the new healthcare model for the Greece of the future.
Published in “White Paper: The Greater Riviera”, NouPou Media’s special edition spotlighting the future of coastal Attica.