Crete’s healthcare system is teetering on the edge of collapse, strained by severe staff shortages and crumbling infrastructure. The situation reached a critical point on Monday, April 29, when all pulmonologists at the Venizeleio General Hospital in Heraklion submitted their resignations in protest.
In a joint statement, the departing doctors said they were left with no choice, as the clinic can no longer operate safely with just four specialized physicians. Despite repeated warnings to hospital management and the Health Region Authority, no effective action was taken.
In a controversial move, a newly appointed pulmonologist was assigned to the University Hospital of Heraklion, where ten pulmonologists already serve, rather than to Venizeleio, which is in dire need.
The Venizeleio Hospital Workers’ Union has sounded the alarm, warning that the institution is “on the verge of collapse.” The Intensive Care Unit is operating at reduced capacity, with three beds out of service due to lack of staff.
Meanwhile, six positions for specialized doctors remain unfilled. According to local news outlet Cretalive, a crucial cardiac diagnostic machine, the angiograph, has been out of service for over a year and a half because of a shortage of nursing staff.
The hospital’s nursing department is also severely understaffed, with over 60 additional positions needed to meet demand. Workers have accumulated more than 20,000 days of unpaid leave and rest days, reflecting the immense pressure under which the staff operates.
Rethymno General Hospital: Protests and Work Stoppages
Similar challenges are being reported at Rethymno General Hospital, where doctors continue their protest actions. Emergency Department staff held a three-hour work stoppage, coupled with a demonstration demanding immediate staffing solutions.
Reports suggest that in an attempt to fill gaps, internists from Venizeleio are being temporarily transferred to Rethymno. These doctors often travel by intercity bus and receive only half of their travel expenses in compensation.
In a further sign of systemic neglect, Rethymno Hospital was allocated just five out of the 530 permanent doctor positions recently announced for the entire country—an allocation that highlights the extent of the hospital’s marginalization.
Healthcare workers from both hospitals are urgently calling for reinforcements—both in personnel and resources, warning that the ongoing degradation of health services poses serious risks to public safety.
