The “Metaxa” cancer hospital in Piraeus was visited on Friday morning by the President of PASOK-Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis.

He spoke with patients, representatives of the medical and nursing staff as well as the administration of the hospital, which is facing severe staff shortages.

As mentioned to Mr. Androulakis, the vacant organizational positions approach 45% for nursing staff, 30% for medical and paramedical staff. The result of this is the collapse of clinics, as well as the fact that out of the 6 surgeries, 3 or 4 are operating.

“The policies of the New Democracy lead the Greek people to pay the highest private costs for their health in the coming years in all of Europe. Today, here at the “Metaxa” cancer hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Greece in the past, I spoke with the workers, with the patients, with the doctors. Shortages in organic positions of doctors and paramedical staff reach 30% and 40% for nurses. Out of the 6 surgical beds in the morning, 3 or 4 are operating. So, for those structures with the biggest shortages, Mr. Georgiadis is talking about afternoon surgeries,” Mr. Androulakis pointed out.

“PASOK supports all-day surgeries, but in order for the institution to succeed, it needs staff, because if we follow the path suggested by Mr. Georgiadis – a communication path -, the morning surgeries will be canceled in favor of the afternoon surgeries. So, in essence, the huge waiting lists of patients waiting for an operation are not reduced. This is our goal. To serve the Greek people, to support the National Health System with actions. The Recovery Fund was a golden opportunity. Unfortunately, New Democracy does not believe in E.S.Y.” said the President of PASOK-Movement for Change.

Asked by a journalist about the government’s bill on non-state non-profit universities, Mr. Androulakis noted: “We have a firm position. Across Europe the majority of students study at public universities. The percentage reaches 85-90% and a 10% in non-governmental non-profits. We want this to happen in Greece as well. There should be strong public universities for the vast majority of Greek youth, but there should also be some non-state non-profit ones, which would be done with specific conditions and financial, academic, geographical criteria. The legislative initiative of Mr. Pierrakakis does not serve any of these conditions. Here we are talking about franchise universities and not evaluation mechanisms for both public and non-public non-profit. We are talking, in essence, about the commercialization of education. We don’t say “No to everything”. We say a brave “Yes” to everything that helps our society move forward. We say “Yes” to everything that gives opportunities to the new generation for better education and perspective in the labor field. But no, let’s lead to commercialization, which will devalue the hopes of young people.”

Finally, when asked to comment on developments in SYRIZA, the President of PASOK-Movement for Change emphasized: “The SYRIZA party is in a state of flux. We watch from a distance and with institutional respect. It is not PASOK’s mentality to get involved in the internal affairs of other parties. I hope they get over their crisis quickly. We have only one goal and one priority: In the European elections, with the popular verdict, with the trust of the Greek people, to be the strong official opposition so that the people have the hope of a modern progressive government against the New Democracy”.