The demographic challenge is the biggest that I have encountered in all three ministries that I have been in, emphasized the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis in his introductory speech at the third conference on the low birth rate organized by the Economist in Athens.

“There can be no sustainable development with low birth rates. In the Ministry of Labour, demographics has been a nightmare, as we have more and more people who cannot contribute to the economy and fewer who will have to work hard for the many to enjoy”, said the Minister of Health, pointing out that difficult measures should be taken decisions by the Ministry of Labor in the coming years.

Speaking from the position of the Minister of Health, he said that now the costs for health, for the aging population, are increased and he pointed out that “you cannot tell these people that you will not help them with the newest treatments and you will not treat them ».

He said that he does not want to be a prophet, but prefers to remain optimistic, hoping that the standard of living will rise in the coming years in most countries, thanks to artificial intelligence. As he said, “the demographic problem is a perennial problem and can be improved when countries’ economies are doing well and citizens are more financially comfortable.”

Speaking personally and about the family she told him that she has two sons and a good -above average salary. “If I had to decide whether to have more children I would say no, because I wouldn’t be able to pay for schools and a university to offer them the best for their education. Think if this happens to me who has a good income, how do people think who are in a worse situation than me”.

A. Georgiadis said that the government created a Ministry of Family and is studying more and serious incentives for young women and young couples in general. Speaking about the idea of ​​immigration in order to increase births, he said that this “must have the total acceptance of a large part of society, otherwise it can create serious problems that are not only political but will also be social and economic in the end ».

I don’t have the solution, concluded the Minister of Health, and I expect to hear a lot from you at this very interesting conference, he said.

In the questions that followed, the Minister of Health said that immigration is useful for the economy, but if we do not take into account the wishes of citizens and society, populism will return. “But what immigration” he wondered and added “the one that will have specific rules, will respect the voice of the citizens of each country and will not treat immigrants only as workers but also as people who have come here to build a better life”.

The Minister of Health concluded by saying that the governments of the Netherlands have supported families with three children in the past and in fact during difficult times for the country’s economy, answering a related question.