The deputy minister said that the hospital’s operating room waiting list is almost at the same levels as in previous years.
“Pedon performs a minimum of six operations and a maximum of twelve to fourteen operations per day. “Well, it’s not correct to say that he doesn’t do surgeries,” said Deputy Minister of Health Mina Gaga in response to a related question from MeRA25 MP, Kriton Arsenis.
The deputy minister said that the hospital’s operating room waiting list is almost at the same levels as in previous years. Characteristically, he said that the waiting list for surgeries in 2018 was 2,379 children, in 2019 it was 2,853 children, in 2020 it was 2,210 children, in 2021 it was 2,606 and at the moment there are 2,925 children.
Mrs. Gaga pointed out that the problem is in the lack of anesthesiologists, for this reason the government gave incentives.
Specifically for the Children’s hospital, Mrs. Gaga noted that at the end of 2018, the total number of anesthesiologists on duty was 11 ESY doctors and one auxiliary doctor. At the end of 2019, the total was fifteen anesthesiologists. At the end of 2020, there were 16 anesthesiologists together with the interns. In 2021 we started with this number. However, they left and the number reached nine NHS doctors and one specialist. In 2022, two NHS doctors and two specialists were hired, but one NHS doctor and one specialist left and today we have 10 NHS doctors, one of whom is on sick leave.
To address staffing needs, we have already opened the platforms and today we have people to hire for the surgeries. We have moved a doctor specializing in anesthesiology to Paedon from Evangelism and one from Voula, so the surgeries are progressing, at the moment. At the same time, we are announcing the positions immediately, not only for the “Children’s Hospital”, but for all the hospitals in the central cities that until now we had not announced them, precisely because there is the issue of anesthesiologists.
Regarding the proposal of requiring anesthesiologists from the private sector, made by the member of parliament, Ms. the minister replied that “nothing works with obligations and I mean the mandatory ones and mandates. “So we are talking with colleagues, we are in constant contact and the “Children’s” is working and will be working normally”.
In reference to the pediatric cardiac surgery incidents at Paedon, Mrs. Gaga emphasized that “for ten years now, a maximum of seventy operations have been performed a year”, in fact, Paedon does some limited operations. But we have another hospital that operates completely publicly, Onassios, and performs 250 operations a year. Today, Onassios is the one that has the experience for such operations. And he emphasized that at the moment there is no child who cannot be hospitalized with a pediatric cardiac surgery problem, immediately and free of charge in Greece, immediately and free of charge at the Onassios Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Center. Today in Greece we normally have incidents for a center. Internationally, experience shows that surgical centers that have a lot of cases are where the best operations are performed, they are where there are better results for patients. And that’s what interests us, where the sick will get results, not pay. To pay nothing, to be completely free and with good results. This is what interests us at the ministry.
The Member of Parliament of MeRA25, Kriton Arsenis, for his part pointed out that pediatric cardiac surgery has been closed for a long time and one surgery is performed per week. On August 29, the Children’s “Agia Sophia” had suspended all surgeries, with the exception of oncology, neonatology and emergency. How is it possible for so long that you have not found a solution to the issue of anesthetists, that you have not even proceeded with some extraordinary measures, until you find the permanent positions, that you have not given the incentives. You let all the anesthesiologists go to the private sector. We have, emphasized the MP, a clear shift towards the closure of “Children” in Greece. With the permanent discredit and closure of the premises of “Pendelis Children”. “Aglaia Kyriakou” with thousands of problems and “Agias Sofias” not working. Your systematic policy is the discrediting of the public. Especially the part of the children and the “Children’s” Hospital, let them all go to the private sector. Mr. Arsenis proposed that the ministry proceed with requisitions “because we cannot proceed with dead people, let alone children”.
RES-EMP
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
