Greek Doctors Protest During PM Mitsotakis’ Hospital Visit

Protests erupted at the University General Hospital Attikon in Athens on March 6, 2024, as riot police clashed with medical staff during a visit by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The confrontation unfolded as health workers demanded to speak with the Prime Minister, voicing their frustrations over severe staff shortages, inadequate pay, and poor working conditions.

Riot police, equipped with shields and batons, used pepper spray to disperse the crowd of protesting doctors. The demonstration coincided with Mitsotakis’ attendance at the inauguration of a new oncology department and a tour of the hospital’s refurbished emergency unit. Health professionals expressed their discontent over what they perceive as the government’s failure to address ongoing issues within the public health system.

Giorgos Sideris, head of the Association of Hospital Doctors of Athens and Piraeus, highlighted the dire situation, stating that 130 patients had recently been forced to sleep on stretchers in hospital corridors due to overcrowding. He emphasized that the hospital urgently required an additional 125 nursing staff to ensure safe operations. “They think we’re going to thank them because they owe us 10,000 days of leave. They think we’re going to thank them for keeping our salaries frozen,” Sideris remarked.

During the inauguration, Mitsotakis announced an increase in regular funding for Attikon from 90 million euros to 150 million euros (approximately $104.5 million to $162.5 million). He acknowledged that while staffing levels had improved, they had not yet reached the desired threshold. “We continue to insist on this great effort to comprehensively restructure the National Health System,” he stated.

The new oncology department, funded by a charity organization, is projected to care for over 20,000 patients annually, marking a 41% increase from 2019. This development comes as the country grapples with widespread dissatisfaction among healthcare workers, who demand better resources and conditions to effectively serve the public.

The clash at the hospital underscores the ongoing challenges facing Greece’s public health sector, with health professionals calling for immediate action to address their grievances. The situation remains tense as the government seeks solutions amid mounting pressure from medical staff and the public.