Doctors from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University General Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI) in Crete have announced their collective resignation in protest against a decision by the Ministry of Health to reassign them to cover on-call shifts at the ICU of Agios Nikolaos General Hospital.

In their letter, the doctors describe the decision as “offensive and discrediting” to their work, arguing that it is unworkable given the current staffing crisis. They cite prolonged neglect by the Ministry of Health in addressing critical staffing shortages, which have forced them to work under excessive and unsafe conditions.

A worsening staffing crisis

The resignation letter details how the clinic has been operating under dire circumstances following the departure of seven specialised doctors over the past year, with most of the training positions remaining vacant. Despite a formal request by the PAGNI Board of Directors in February 2024 to fill six National Health System (ESY) doctor positions (two A-level and four B-level supervisors), the Ministry of Health has not advertised any of these roles.

Doctors at the clinic have had to shoulder the burden, routinely performing three or more on-call shifts beyond the official limit to ensure patient care and maintain hospital bed capacity. The clinic has already hospitalised over 700 patients in 2024, many requiring complex treatments only available at PAGNI.

Ministry decision triggers backlash

Despite these efforts, the Ministry of Health ordered PAGNI ICU doctors to cover on-call shifts at Agios Nikolaos General Hospital. The doctors argue that such measures do not address the systemic staffing shortages and jeopardise patient safety in both hospitals.

“We disagree with the tactic of moving medical staff to cover permanent needs of neighbouring hospitals, which we consider unsafe and ineffective,” they state.

The doctors also criticised the Ministry for undermining their contributions, stating, “This action confirms the continued discrediting of the work and extraordinary efforts of the doctors at the PAGNI ICU Clinic.”

A principled stand

The collective resignation reflects the doctors’ frustration and their commitment to upholding medical ethics and patient care standards. “For reasons of principle, dignity, and scientific responsibility, our work at the PAGNI ICU under these circumstances cannot continue,” they declare.

The signatories

The resignation letter is signed by all faculty members and permanent specialised ESY doctors of the PAGNI ICU, including:

  • Evmorfia Kondyli, Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Director of the PAGNI Intensive Care Clinic
  • Ekaterini Vaporidi, Associate Professor of Intensive Care Medicine
  • Evangelia Akoumianaki, Assistant Professor of Intensive Care Medicine
  • Maria Anastasaki, Director of the National Institute of Health
  • Nektaria Xirouchaki, Director of the National Institute of Health
  • Georgios Prinianakis, Director of the National Institute of Health
  • Charalambos Psarologiakis, Senior Consultant, National Institute of Health
  • Charalambos Pappas, Senior Consultant, National Institute of Health
  • Sofia Kokkini, Senior Consultant, National Institute of Health

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