The Medical Association of Athens (ISA) requests in a letter to the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis the restoration of parity between NHS doctors and freelance doctors, with the immediate institutionalization of the possibility of the latter to work in the NHS.

In the letter, he emphasizes his firm position, as unanimously ratified by the Board of Directors on April 3, according to which all of its medical members, both those who serve in the public sector and private freelancers, are equal and entitled to equal opportunities, for the exercise of their function and the development of their personality.

In particular, the letter points out that ISA “in accordance with the decision of the General Assembly of the PES, is in favor of the full and exclusive employment of NHS doctors, whom the State must reward with salaries worthy of their work and equivalent to those of the average in Europe».

However, it is clarified in the ISA letter: It is our belief that the position, role and terms of service in the public and private service sector should be transparent and distinct.

However, today, after the passing of Law 5102/2024 (Government Gazette A 55) “Public Health Actions – Arrangements to strengthen the National Health System”, the provision of the possibility to NHS doctors and faculty members to carry out private work, but also to be paid for afternoon surgeries is the law of the state”.

ISA concludes that “with these data, and in order to restore equal treatment and treatment between public and private sector doctors, all of whom are employees of the country’s health system, the need to restore parity between NHS doctors and freelance doctors with the immediate institutionalization of the possibility of the latter, if they wish, with specific conditions to safeguard the orderly operation of public structures, to offer their medical services, to perform medical, diagnostic, interventional and surgical operations within the hospitals and other structures of the NHS. In this way, at the same time, the citizens’ right to free choice will be expanded, strengthened and guaranteed».