Tensions flared at Athens’ University General Hospital Attikon on Wednesday as riot police clashed with medical staff during a protest over deteriorating public health services. The demonstration coincided with a visit by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who was attending the inauguration of a new oncology department and touring the renovated emergency wing. Armed with shields, batons, and pepper spray, police forcefully dispersed doctors demanding to meet with the prime minister, according to local media reports. The protest highlighted critical issues plaguing Greece’s healthcare system, including severe staff shortages, stagnant wages, and unsafe working conditions. Dr. Giorgos Sideris, head of the Association of Hospital Doctors of Athens and Piraeus, condemned the government’s inaction, stating that healthcare workers are owed 10,000 days of leave and have endured frozen salaries. He also revealed that 130 patients recently slept on stretchers in hospital corridors due to overcrowding, emphasizing the urgent need for 125 additional nursing staff to meet basic safety standards. Mitsotakis acknowledged the challenges during his speech, noting that funding for Attikon had risen from 90 million euros to 150 million euros and that staffing levels had improved, albeit insufficiently. The new oncology ward, funded by a charity organization, is expected to treat over 20,000 patients annually, marking a 41% increase from 2019. Despite these developments, the protest underscored the deep-seated frustrations of healthcare workers and the pressing need for systemic reforms.
Greek riot police scuffle with protesting doctors during hospital tour by PM Mitsotakis
