Greece’s public healthcare system is once again under heavy scrutiny, as citizens voice growing frustration over deteriorating hospital conditions and chronic understaffing.
Recent incidents — including parts of hospital ceilings collapsing and patients trapped in malfunctioning elevators — have intensified criticism of the government’s claims that the system is steadily improving. In a recent statement, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed to patient surveys suggesting high satisfaction levels, arguing that reforms are making the National Health System (ESY) “more humane and effective.”
Opposition parties, however, reject this narrative, accusing the government of painting a misleading picture. They point to Eurostat data showing that Greeks face some of the highest out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in the European Union, with nearly 12% of citizens unable to access necessary treatments due to financial or structural barriers.
Political leaders have also emphasized the country’s severe staffing shortages, with more than 6,500 vacant doctor positions and 20,000 nursing posts. Critics argue that the government relies on the dedication of medical professionals while failing to adequately support them.
“The reality is one of collapse,” said opposition figures, stressing that a truly functional healthcare system must be fully public, universal, and adequately funded. Some also warned that large numbers of citizens remain effectively uninsured, returning to conditions seen before the ESY was first established.
The debate has also taken on a sharper tone, with Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis clashing openly with media outlets and healthcare unions. Doctors and nurses argue that patient satisfaction reflects gratitude to frontline staff, not endorsement of government policy.
Source: Tovima.com
