Greece’s Health Chief Calls for More Hospital Staff

Greece’s healthcare system is under scrutiny as officials call for urgent staff increases while highlighting ongoing improvements across hospitals and clinics.

Matina Pagoni, president of the Greek Medical Association and vice president of the national hospital doctors’ union, emphasized that citizen feedback from recent evaluations should guide reforms. Around 15,586 patients from 92 hospitals and 447 clinics were surveyed via SMS, with roughly 30% responding.

“The evaluation must happen,” Pagoni said, stressing that both positive and negative feedback should inform hospital administrators and regional health authorities. “Whatever is wrong should be corrected. Patients deserve to enter decent buildings and receive proper care.”

Pagoni pointed to improvements funded by the European Recovery Fund, which have upgraded numerous hospitals and clinics. She also highlighted practical measures benefiting patients, such as delivering high-cost medications to homes to reduce long queues and implementing devices to assist patients navigating hospital systems.

However, she stressed that challenges remain, particularly long waiting times in emergency departments. “We want to reduce waiting from 12 hours to 4–5 hours. In public hospitals, results are available the same day, and decisions can be made immediately about care or treatment,” she said.

The most pressing demand, Pagoni insisted, is more personnel. She urged faster recruitment and appointments of doctors and nurses across Greece, including the islands, where shortages remain critical. “Health services must not only focus on major cities or tourist seasons — every region deserves proper staffing year-round,” she said.

Pagoni concluded by highlighting the importance of patient dignity. “All improvements should ensure respect and care for every patient. This is the first priority,” she said, calling on authorities and the public to support ongoing reforms while addressing both successes and shortcomings in the healthcare system.

Source: Tovima.com