“I don’t think paid afternoon surgeries will have any disruptive effect on morning lists because we simply haven’t seen that happen to morning surgery lists since paid afternoons were introduced, 23 years ago. However, if we have 50,000 subsidized surgeries with EU funds in the afternoon hours, this will contribute the most to reducing the waiting time,” said the president of the Panhellenic Medical Association, Athanasios Hexadaktylos, in an interview with FM Agency.

“As for the shame that has accompanied us for 40 years now, that is the pouches, theoretically with the afternoon surgeries they will be reduced. However, it remains to be seen in practice, which sometimes surprises us. And I say this because whenever we had a tightening and a “hunt” for the sachets, we did not see a reduction in the phenomenon” said the president of the PIS.

He himself, speaking about the changes that are taking place in our country, in this period in the field of health, characterized as exaggerations what is heard about its privatization.

“Since 2001, we have paid evening clinics within the NHS. Health was not privatized in this way. Also, since 2012, EOPYY has been involved in all operations carried out in the private sector. Are private clinics public? Obviously not. It’s good to be a little sparing with characterizations.”

Rural people who become personal doctors are a solution of necessity for areas where there are no objective possibilities

Regarding the Personal Doctor, the president of PIS comments: “The fact that private individuals also enter was a possibility that the law provided for from 2022, which the ministry took too long to implement. It concerns citizens, who have already made their personal choice for doctors who do not wish to join the system, and so these citizens do not necessarily go to a doctor they do not like. So this is well done and will work positively. As far as the rural people who become Personal are concerned, this is a necessary solution more for areas where there are no objective possibilities”. In other words, the citizens of remote areas are considered second-class citizens, asks Mr. Exadaktylos: “In these cases, the choice is specific. Either they don’t have a doctor at all, or the doctor in their area takes care of them in terms of prevention and record keeping. We have great respect for the rural doctor, because as a unique doctor he carries an incredible load. He does much more than an expert would.” But does the rural doctor have the knowledge to take over all cases as a personal person? “Obviously he’s the least trained doctor of all. There is no doubt. However, there is always a question of possibilities. And this has been true for decades in our country.”