Representatives of hospital workers’ unions sounded the alarm over staffing shortages in Greece’s public hospitals at a rally held at Genimatas Hospital, highlighting the serious impact these shortages have on the functioning of the National Health System (ESY).
Michalis Giannakos, president of POEDIN (the Federation of Public Hospital Employees), argued that since the end of the pandemic, hospitals have been operating with 3,000 fewer workers, a deficit that has caused critical services to function well below capacity.
No Interest in Public Health
Giannakos noted that even when job openings are posted, there are few takers, resulting in more people leaving the system than being hired. He attributed the difficulty in staffing hospitals to low pay and poor working conditions, calling for measures to bolster personnel numbers and reopen shuttered operating rooms.
Closed Operating Rooms, Reduced ICU Beds
He also reported that functioning ICU beds have dropped from 1,200 to 800, and that 400 out of 1,000 available operating rooms remain closed due to shortages of nurses and doctors.
Giannakos further expressed concern about the scheduled expiration, at the end of June, of a free afternoon surgery program funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility. He warned that without an extension, patient waiting lists will grow again.
