On March 3, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially designated the Medical School of the University of Crete as a WHO Collaborating Centre in Quality of Care and People-Centered Health Policies.

Over a four-year period, the Centre is committed to implementing three core pillars of action and is open to participation by all interested members of the Medical School and the broader University of Crete community:

• Dissemination of knowledge and engagement with societal stakeholders to support the development of policies based on population needs in the Mediterranean region.
• Development of infrastructure and tools to enhance health services, with a focus on compassionate care and dignity.
• Standardization of procedures for delivering patient-centered care and facilitating navigation within healthcare systems.

The official certification was awarded to the Medical School during a WHO event held at the Ministry of Health in Athens. The certification was received from the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, by Emeritus Professor Christos Lionis, who led the initiative, on behalf of the Dean of the Medical School, Professor Eleni Papadaki.

The official public ceremony to mark the designation of the Medical School of the University of Crete as a WHO Collaborating Centre will take place on May 19, 2026. Further details will be announced in due course.