This alarming situation, brought to light by tvxs.gr, comes just days after Greek Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis made a controversial visit to the hospital on Kos. During his tour, Georgiadis clashed with hospital staff, dismissing their concerns about poor working conditions, severe shortages of doctors, and a lack of ambulances. When confronted by a doctor about these critical issues, the minister responded by shouting, “I am elected.”
SYRIZA’s Head of Health, Andreas Panagiotopoulos, condemned the incident, stating, “The situation in the National Health System (ESY) is becoming increasingly dangerous for both citizens and tourists.” He criticised the government’s policy of recruiting private doctors as ineffective and pointed to this latest incident as “tragic confirmation” of the government’s inadequacy, particularly that of Minister Georgiadis. Panagiotopoulos noted that the cardiologist recruited in July had stayed for only a month, underscoring the transient and ineffective nature of the government’s response.
Panagiotopoulos further accused the government of pursuing a deliberate strategy to privatise the NHS, stating, “The reality of the National Health System’s dissolution cannot be hidden under the carpet. Now that the failures of your policies are evident, the only solution for society is your resignation—both you personally and your government, with its harsh neo-right health privatisation agenda.”
The incident has sparked outrage among the New Left as well. The party issued a statement condemning the situation: “Only days after Minister Georgiadis’s arrogant and unacceptable attack on Kos hospital staff, reality has unfortunately proven just how right those workers were.” The statement highlights the absurdity of a gynaecologist being the most relevant available specialist to treat a heart attack and criticises the minister for not only ignoring the staff’s concerns during his visit but also insulting them.
The New Left further lambasted the degradation of the public health system under the Mitsotakis government, noting, “There are no doctors, patients are being transported in farm vehicle carts, and workers are employed through illegal programmes. The situation is spiralling out of control, with health personnel unable to meet demands, putting citizens and tourists at daily risk.”
______________________________________________
Are you seeking news from Greece presented from a progressive, non-mainstream perspective? Subscribe monthly or annually to support TPP International in delivering independent reporting in English. Don’t let Greek progressive voices fade.
Make sure to reference “TPP International” and your order number as the reason for payment.