Hospitals and health centers across several Greek islands are struggling with critical staff shortages just weeks before the peak tourist season, according to a nationwide assessment by the Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Employees (HEDNA).
The union’s report highlights significant gaps in medical personnel across island regions, including Crete, the Aegean, the Cyclades and the Ionian Sea, raising concerns about the ability of healthcare services to cope with increased demand during the summer months.
Key Specialties Missing
In some hospitals, even basic medical specialties are unavailable. On the island of Kos, no internal medicine specialist is currently employed, with the department relying on a contracted physician and general practitioners. On Samos, there are no internal medicine doctors, ophthalmologists or ear, nose and throat specialists, while the intensive care unit is staffed by only one intensive care physician.
Healthcare infrastructure is also affected by staffing shortages. At a major hospital in Crete, three of 15 intensive care beds remain closed, while only five of eight operating rooms are functioning. On Rhodes, just two of seven operating theatres are operational. A state-of-the-art MRI scanner is reportedly used only once a week due to a lack of doctors, while a modern digital mammography unit remains inactive for the same reason.
Growing Pressure on Healthcare Workers
The report also points to mounting pressure on existing staff. In one hospital in Crete, personnel numbers have fallen by 20% over the past four years, leaving employees owed more than 18,000 days of leave and time off.
Healthcare workers in other island regions report exhausting work schedules and continuous operation under minimum staffing levels.
Primary healthcare services face similar challenges. On Milos, the local health center is staffed by only two nurses and three general practitioners, with no other medical specialties available. Tinos operates without a general practitioner or cardiologist, while Ios has no pediatrician.
Housing Crisis Hindering Recruitment
According to HEDNA, low salaries, unsuccessful recruitment campaigns and a severe housing shortage are among the main reasons positions remain unfilled.
On popular tourist islands such as Kos and Santorini, healthcare professionals often struggle to find affordable accommodation even when vacancies are advertised, resulting in many recruitment efforts failing to attract candidates.
The union has announced a regional protest in Crete on May 27, warning that temporary staff transfers and short-term measures are not enough to address the growing crisis. It argues that urgent action is needed as Greece prepares for another summer expected to bring millions of visitors to its islands.
