Greek Police Clash with Doctors During PM Mitsotakis Hospital Visit

Protests erupted at the University General Hospital Attikon in Athens on Wednesday as riot police clashed with medical staff during a visit by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The demonstration was aimed at highlighting serious issues within Greece’s public health system, including staff shortages, inadequate pay, and poor working conditions.

Riot police deployed pepper spray, shields, and batons to disperse the protesting doctors who sought an audience with Mitsotakis. Local media reported that health workers expressed frustration over their grievances, which have been exacerbated by the ongoing pressures facing the public health system.

During his visit, Mitsotakis was joined by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis to inaugurate a new oncology department and inspect a refurbished emergency department. The new oncology ward, funded by a charity organization, is projected to serve over 20,000 patients annually, marking a 41% increase in patient capacity since 2019, according to the Prime Minister’s office.

Protestors voiced discontent with the government’s handling of healthcare, particularly regarding unpaid leave and stagnant salaries. Giorgos Sideris, head of the Association of Hospital Doctors of Athens and Piraeus, emphasized the dire conditions faced by staff and patients alike. He stated, “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 highlighted that recently, 130 patients had been forced to sleep on stretchers in the hospital corridors due to overcrowding. He insisted that an additional 125 nursing staff are urgently needed to ensure safety and adequate care levels.

During the inauguration, Mitsotakis noted that funding for the hospital has increased from 90 million euros to 150 million euros. He acknowledged that while staffing levels have risen, they are still not at the desired levels. “We continue to insist on this great effort to comprehensively restructure the National Health System,” he stated.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges facing Greece’s healthcare system, as medical professionals call for urgent reforms to address both staffing and resource shortages. The clash at Attikon reflects a broader discontent among healthcare workers who feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed by the government.