The Minister of Health spoke about the recruitment of doctors and nurses, the staffing of the EKAV and also about the shortages of medicines. Michalis Chrysochoidis to on the “Today” show.

As Mr. Chrysochoidis said 4,000 nurse recruitments are underway many of whom are already working as they were adjuncts and in the coming days Mrs. Niki Kerameos is expected to announce the recruitment of 2024 where we are expected to add over 1,500 doctors, thousands of nurses and other staff.

Drug shortages

Regarding drug shortages, Mr. Chrysochoidis said that this is a global phenomenon and concerns the supply chain “Greece is in the best penultimate position in terms of shortages. High on the list are larger countries. We have tthe privilege of having generic production. A 30-35% of drugs are generics,” he said.

He also claimed that he has already signed three decisions regarding the non-export of medicines abroad, sending a message that “the health and needs of Greek citizens come first. If there is enough, exports will be made, as long as there are shortages, they will not be made.”

In fact, Mr. Chrysochoidis announced that in a few days there will be an application which we will see through our mobile phone if there will be the medicine we want. The application, as he said, will probably be ready in a month or so.

For Thessaly

Regarding the health situation in Thessaly after the floods, he said that “examinations are constantly being carried out by the relevant laboratories and by the EODY. We must constantly anticipate”
At the same time, he pointed out that a provision will be passed for the exemption of all thessalians for zero participation in all farms and for diagnostic tests”.

For EKAV

Regarding the staffing of EKAV, he said “15 days ago we brought to the minister a new plan for EKAV. We are adding another 50 ambulances by the end of the year. We added another 120 people to EKAV Attica” and underlined that there will be an announcement for another 800 permanent staff. Regarding the auxiliary staff, he said that “no one will leave. Those who are on contract will be made permanent and the new ones will be added.”

Finally, the Minister of Health stated that approximately 130 hospitals have already started to be upgraded mainly with the modernization of the emergency department.
“Priority beyond construction, is to have a new way of managing emergency services” Mr. Chrysochoidis concluded.