Authorities on the Greek island of Ithaca are warning of serious gaps in children’s healthcare, as the island remains without a permanent pediatrician despite having around 400 children.
According to local officials, Ithaca has lacked a resident pediatrician since 2017. A temporary arrangement that brought a doctor from nearby Kefalonia a few days each week has recently ended, leaving families without specialist care.
The shortage is creating significant difficulties for parents, who must now travel to other locations—sometimes as far as Patras—to access pediatric services. These journeys can be especially challenging during adverse weather or when transport options are limited.
“We have been without a permanent pediatrician for a year and a half. The previous pediatrician covered the island twice a week. There isn’t even a private pediatrician—unfortunately, it’s a huge issue,” said Smaragda Sardeli, the island’s deputy regional governor.
Sardeli said the island’s health center is operating with limited staff, including one pathologist, two cardiologists—one of whom is retired—and five rural doctors. She noted that this staffing level is insufficient to meet the needs of the local population.
To address shortages, the Region of the Ionian Islands has introduced financial incentives aimed at attracting medical personnel. “We provide an additional €450 to rural and auxiliary doctors to come to our islands. This initiative started in Ithaca and has now been extended across the Ionian Islands,” Sardeli said.
Local authorities have repeatedly appealed to the Ministry of Health for a solution. A recent proposal submitted to the 6th Regional Health Authority suggested deploying pediatricians from Kefalonia to cover Ithaca, but officials say no response has been received so far.
