Sweeping are the changes in the whole of Directorates of Sanitary Controls and Environmental Hygiene of the Region of Attica, as by the decision of the Regional Governor, Nikos Hardalia, none of the 148 employees of the Health Control Directorate remained in their positions. The arrests come after the revelations about a ring of extortion companies by employees of the Region, the Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Athens.

Specifically:

• All 7 Directors of health control services are changing

Particularly:

Three Directors are “retired” (Central, Northern and Southern Sectors) and four are moved to another area of ​​responsibility (Western Sector, Piraeus & Islands, Western Attica, Eastern Attica).

It is pointed out that both the heads and those in positions of responsibility in the “sinful” Central and Northern Sectors, after the recent complaints and arrests of employees in their regional unit of responsibility, did not see the exit, but are also moving outside the control services of the Attica Region.

At the same time, the head of the Southern Sector – a regional unit with special weight due to the operation of very large companies – is also removed from his position. In addition, the remaining four Directors (in the Western Sector, Piraeus & Islands, Western and Eastern Attica) are moving to a different geographical division, despite their proven professional consistency and the fact that there was nothing aggravating against them, in the context of the Regional Governor’s decision Attica that no one is exempt from the changes.

• All 15 Heads of Health Control Services are changing

Particularly:

Ten Department Heads are moving to a different area of ​​responsibility and five, following the recent complaints about the Central and Southern Sectors, are being relieved of their duties.

It is noted that by decision of the Regional Governor of Attica, all the Heads of Secretariats are also “dismissed”.

• All 126 Health Supervisors are changing – By Lottery & Rotation their placement

Particularly:

100% of the Health Supervisors, who were responsible for the control of shops and businesses of health interest throughout Attica, move – without any exception – not only to a different area of ​​responsibility, but to other Directorates and to different regional units.

It is noted that, following the decision of the Regional Governor of Attica, a lottery was held for the placement of the new 126 Health Supervisors, in the presence of the General Director of Public Health, the Executive Secretary and the Special Secretary of the Attica Region. The placement of the Health Supervisors will last two years and will be followed by the re-filling of the positions through the “rotation” process – a process that ensures a change of sectors, areas of responsibility and the composition of pairs of inspectors.

It is also noted that:

1) Three supervisors with SIPSAN international accreditation, who deal exclusively with the health control of cruise ships, remain at the Piraeus Health Department.

2) Four specialized executives remain in the regional units of Piraeus & Islands, West Attica and East Attica. It is clarified that these executives will deal exclusively with programs and actions to deal with the problem of mosquitoes, natural disasters, unhealthy outbreaks, water checks in sources, drilling, etc. and will not be involved with checks of stores and businesses of health interest.

Finally, given the specific weight and the Metropolitan characteristics of the ports of Attica a Special Port Management Working Group is established, by decision of the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalia.

Charalambos Vassiliou, who until recently had the health responsibility of the PPA, is appointed as the head, while now he will also perform the duties of Assistant Director in the health control services of the Southern Sector.

The Port Management Task Force will be responsible for all sanitary issues of watercraft (cruise ships, boats, etc.), processing all relevant data and submitting proposals both for the better operation of the ports in general, as well as for the safety of travelers and visitors.

After the announcement of the changes, the Regional Governor of Attica, Nikos Hardalias, said:

“By my personal decision, all 148 employees of the Directorate of Health Control of the Attica Region are changing positions today.

Today, we are announcing a tripartite set of interventions aimed at the complete consolidation and efficient operation of the Region’s control mechanisms. We are proceeding with the change of all Directors, Heads of Departments and Health Supervisors. It is self-evident that all those who were in positions of responsibility in the Central and Northern Sectors are dismissed from their duties. The new “pairs” of inspectors will now be determined by lottery, while all 126 Health Supervisors will change their area of ​​responsibility every two years. And we’re not stopping there, as we’ll be announcing additional transparency shielding safeguards in detail very soon.

I want to be clear. I have absolute confidence in the ethos, experience and hard work of the vast majority of our employees in the Attica Region. I am not and have never been a devotee of the opinion that “with the dry, the green also burns”. However, everyone is judged. And first of all I wish to be judged, daily, by the citizens.

From the first day I assumed my duties, I promised that I would serve the citizens of Attica with consistency, honesty and full transparency. Because it is the citizens to whom we must be accountable day in and day out.

I repeat it. We will crack down on any illegal behavior that hurts the prestige of the Region and the relationship of trust that we build society.

Zero tolerance for corruption.
We continue vigorously and with dignity.”