“We also suffer from a lack of human resources here”

THE Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis visited Syros yesterday, Thursday 18 July 2024, accompanied by Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous, Secretary General of Health Services Lilian Venetia Vildiridis, Commander of the 2nd Health Region Christos Roilos and EKAV Commander Nikos.

During his visit, the minister first met with the mayor of Syros, Alexis Athanassiou, and the deputy governor of the Cyclades, Giorgos Leontaritis.

Mr Georgiadis then visited the Syros General Hospital, where he had the opportunity to talk to doctors, nurses and patients, before heading to the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce, where a large business meeting was held. Regarding the activities of Cyclades Health Units. In this meeting, Cyclades Deputy Governor Giorgos Leontaritis, Cyclades Deputy Health Governor Charalambos Darzentas, 2nd Health Region Governor Christos Roilos, EKAV Governor Nikos Papaefstathiou, Cyclades Medical Association President Panagris Vodosul, Governor GN Nikolaos Rousas of Syros and Cycladic MPs Katerina Monoghiou and Philippos Fortomas.

Mayors of the islands of Syros, Naxos, Paros, Small Cyclades, Serifos, Sikinos, Sifnos, Tinos, Folegandros, Amorgos, Antiparos, Thira, Ios, Keas, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos also participated in this three-hour meeting. in person or via video conference, representatives of the medical community of Mykonos, as well as Cyclades hospitals and health centers.

At the end of his visit, Mr. Georgiadis stated, among other things:

«For the first time in history, we thoroughly discussed the political leadership of the Ministry of Health with all the municipal authorities and actors of almost all the Cycladic islands, each of them exposed the problems of their island, but also the problems of insularity as a whole regarding the provision of health services. I think a lot of answers have been given and we have mentioned a lot of things that we need to hear. Many things have been clarified. Our air transport plan has been presented, we believe it will be presented in detail and publicly to the Greek people within a few days.“, said the health minister of Syros.

«We have explained the recruitment periods. We have decided to open positions for the recruitment of adjuncts with service blocks on different islands. In general, we put a lot of issues and I think so we put a series to solve many issues of Cyclades island area, especially in places where there are problems due to geography. We promise that we will be here again soon, so that what we decided today has entered the implementation stage, so that both residents and visitors of the Cyclades can be fully assured that the health system is here and working for the benefit of our fellow citizens. to us“, he added.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the health minister posted photos of Syros Hospital, which is being renovated with funding from the Restoration Fund and NSRF, along with the total cost. More than €6,000,000. «Medical equipment is complete we also suffer from lack of human resources here. While we serve 31 more people today than in 2019, the needs have increased and we need to find additional staff.“, stressed Mr. Georgiadis.

Here are the journalists’ questions:

Journalist: You know better than anyone that Syros hospital supports all the Cyclades. Staffing here and now for the summer was a constant demand of both the Management and the workers. Will the Ministry of Health do something specific?

Marios Themistocleous: “Especially in the hospital of Syros there is a huge increase in both nursing and other staff compared to 2019. In the next period, from September, we will have a KYA that will give a significant increase in the allowance. From the barren areas that are the Cyclades islands. 100 will triple from 10,000 euros and will be more in special specialties. Thus, 500 to 600 euros net average – depending on the doctor’s rank – and barren positions will be re-announced, which will greatly reduce the chances of these positions remaining, together with the personal work of doctors it’s empty.”

Adonis Georgiades: “I believe that the structural measures we have implemented as a whole will allow more participation of medical workers in the new round of invitations, but the world knows Syros Hospital today, as I have been officially informed by the administration. There are 31 more employees than in 2019.”

Journalist: What conclusion did you come to as the competent minister in the field of health for the Cyclades?

Adonis Georgiades: “The National Health System as a whole achieves thousands of successes every day in the management of diseases, injuries, accidents, etc. of our compatriots. These successes do not become the first topic anywhere. If there is no doctor somewhere, if the apparatus is not working somewhere, if someone paid for a CT scan, the first issue is It makes sense for the media to focus on failure, but when you do, you ask whether the residents should feel safe. Is this the right answer in Europe? There are many opportunities to make the system better in the difficult circumstances we live in. We will do everything humanly possible.”