Greece has no specific whistleblower protection laws in place. However, since whistleblowing programs rely in the vast majority of cases on the processing of personal data, the rules and principles of the Act Regarding Protection of Individuals with Regard to the Processing of Personal Data applies to whistleblowing programs.

Article 9 par. 1 of the Greek Constitution provides that: “The private and family life of the individual is inviolable”. Article 8 par. 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as enacted into Greek Law by Law 53/1974, provides that: “Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence”.

As clinical trials, drug development, collaboration, licensing arrangements and pharmacovigilance expands in Greece, data protections issues will increase in importance. An enhanced understanding of the Greek data protection framework will be necessary, particularly as respects collection and transfer abroad of medical and clinical data stored or originating in Greece. Clinical trial researchers, sponsors and others will want to be aware of and ensure that appropriate precautions have been observed and that use of the data is permitted.

What national law(s) apply to the collection and use of personal data? If applicable, has Directive 46/1995/EC on data protection (Data Protection Directive) been implemented?

Είναι πλέον γεγονός, ότι στη σύγχρονη κοινωνία της πληροφορίας που διανύουμε, η ολοένα αυξανόμενη χρήση των συστημάτων πληροφορικής, της ηλεκτρονικής τεχνολογίας και όλων των νέων μέσων διαχείρισης πληροφοριών και στοιχείων, έχει επιφέρει ριζικές αλλαγές σε κάθε τομέα της κοινωνικής και οικονομικής ζωής αλλά ταυτόχρονα εγκυμονεί κινδύνους για την ιδιωτική ζωή του ατόμου και την προστασία των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων του.