A major public health concern has emerged in northern Greece after the intensive care unit (ICU) at Xanthi General Hospital was reported to have been out of operation for several years due to a lack of medical staff.
The ICU has reportedly remained closed since June 2021, leaving the region’s approximately 110,000 residents without access to local intensive care services in emergencies.
As a result, patients requiring critical care must be transferred to hospitals in other cities, including Kavala, Drama, Komotini, Alexandroupoli, and Thessaloniki, depending on availability and urgency.
Staff shortages at the core of the problem
According to local officials, the main reason for the closure is a shortage of specialist doctors, particularly intensive care physicians, despite the hospital having adequate infrastructure.
Xanthi Mayor Stratos Kontos described the situation as particularly severe, noting that the prefecture remains the only area in the wider Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region without an operational ICU.
He stressed that residents are forced to rely on emergency transfers at moments when immediate intensive care is critical.
Post-pandemic strain on healthcare system
Reports indicate that staffing levels at the hospital declined significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors were reluctant to work under sustained pressure. Despite ongoing efforts by hospital management and the Ministry of Health to strengthen staffing in certain departments, the ICU remains closed.
Local authorities have acknowledged improvements in some hospital services but say the critical care unit remains an unresolved issue.
Efforts to attract medical staff
In an attempt to address shortages, the municipality of Xanthi has introduced a €300 monthly housing allowance for doctors relocating from other regions. The broader regional authority has also implemented similar incentives to attract medical professionals.
