“Let’s thank the Minister of Health for not making any new hires because… they can’t be made. Also, thank you for forcing us to work endless extra shifts to keep hospitals from shutting down, all while taxing us at 35%. We are especially grateful that the only way to avoid collapsing from exhaustion is to suffer a stroke and end up in one of our own hospitals,” OENGE’s statement read.
The tension stems from a heated exchange between Georgiadis and Christos Karachristos, president of the Thessaloniki Hospital Doctors’ Association (ENITH), during a visit to the “Papanikolou” hospital. When Karachristos highlighted the need for more permanent hires in Greece’s National Health System (ESY), Georgiadis responded angrily, dismissing the request as “leftist” rhetoric, declaring, “I’m tired of these leftists,” and adding, “That’s what the Communist Party says.”
The minister continued his tirade, accusing the doctor of ungratefulness and “whining.” “Say thank you to the state for everything it does. I’m sick of your complaints from morning till night. The system is working, it’s standing, it’s saving lives,” Georgiadis shouted. Karachristos, keeping his composure, calmly reminded the minister that it is overworked doctors who are keeping the system afloat.
“Imaginary fans vs. real doctors”
OENGE went on to highlight the dissonance between Georgiadis’ rhetoric and reality, pointing out that the minister is welcomed at hospitals not by his “imaginary fans” from social media, but by “real doctors” who are consistently raising the alarm about the crumbling healthcare system.
“The minister seems to imagine support from enthusiastic fans online, but when he visits hospitals, it’s real doctors—exhausted, overworked, and underpaid—who greet him and demand solutions. No amount of social media praise can mask the real crisis in our hospitals,” the statement added.
ENITH: “Tired of the ministry’s audacity and mockery”
ENITH echoed OENGE’s frustration, releasing their own statement condemning the minister’s behaviour and the broader failings of the healthcare system.
“We’re told to ‘thank the state,’ so here it is: We thank the government for the massive staff shortages, with 30% of doctor positions in Thessaloniki hospitals unfilled. We thank them for making us work to the point of collapse, as in the case of our colleague, the anesthesiologist who collapsed from exhaustion. We thank them for leaving thousands of contract workers in perpetual insecurity, constantly fearing dismissal,” ENITH’s statement read.
The group also criticized the government’s handling of NHS staff, who are regularly transferred between hospitals to cover gaps in services, severely disrupting clinics. “We thank the government for constantly shifting NHS doctors to patch holes in other hospitals, disrupting clinics and harming the mental and physical health of workers,” ENITH said.
“No favours – it’s our struggle that keeps hospitals running”
Both OENGE and ENITH emphasised that it is the daily efforts of healthcare professionals, not government policy, that keeps hospitals running.
“We are tired of the ministry’s audacity and mockery while people are at risk, and hospitals collapse. We won’t do them any favours. Hospitals are kept up by doctors and nurses, through our daily struggles to serve patients,” ENITH concluded, promising to continue fighting for the NHS with mass recruitment of permanent staff and better working conditions.
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