Stefanos Kasselakis was in Ikaria and Fournos, as part of his multi-day tour of the Aegean islands.

According to the relevant press release of SYRIZA, the president of SYRIZA PS “after the warm welcome” and the talks with the residents, visited the hospital of Ikaria, the situation in which the health workers and residents “described in black colors”. Characteristically, it is noted, 50% of the staff is auxiliary, while understaffing makes its operation problematic.

Mr. Kasselakis was in favor of the permanence of health workers and the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th salary, in order to fill the gaps and provide services with basic dignity for patients. “The rulers cannot point the finger at us, when the parents of many people, especially parliamentarians, are dying in hospitals. A country that neglects to let its citizens die cannot be called European,” he said.

He repeated the main proposals of the official opposition for the restructuring of the National Health System. Among them, the establishment of a Housing program for nurses and doctors on the islands, under the central responsibility of the State and not of each Municipality. He also advocated the redirection of resources from the Recovery Fund to support public health, to which only 4.8% of said funds are currently directed, as stated in the relevant announcement of SYRIZA-PS.