Answer to what the Minister of Health mentioned in Parliament Adonis Georgiades gives by letter of Panhellenic Medical Association.

In their letter, the doctors refer to the health minister’s threatening statements, noting that “direct or veiled threats are completely unjustified, apart from the fact that they will actually worsen the problem, which we assume you do not intend.”

The letter states in detail:

“We are surprised to hear your threatening statements in the Parliament regarding the doctors who practice medicine privately in areas with understaffed Hospitals. We are also informed of oral and written requests from Hospital Administrators to Medical Associations for the provision of contact information of these colleagues.

First of all, let us point out that you have never raised the problem that you are now citing as urgent, even though this has been known for years. Therefore direct or veiled threats are completely unwarranted, apart from actually making the problem worse, which we assume you don’t intend.

For your convenience, we remind you of the following:

  1. Pathology as a specialty is unattractive and such actions will push it into the repulsive. After all, it is known that one of the main disincentives for joining the institution of a personal doctor are corresponding provisions of the law.
  2. Such quiescent reports (since we have neither a pandemic, nor a war, nor a natural disaster) are far from well-intentioned democratic administration, as they fundamentally disrupt the ability to practice medicine.
  3. There is a danger that doctors will flee from problem areas and at the same time they will not attract anyone who is in the big urban centers or abroad.
  4. They concern people to whom the state has already treated with no results in the past (dismissal from IKA in 2014, termination of contracts with EOPYY in 2018), depriving citizens of valuable medical services.

We understand that the NHS is not very attractive and for this reason we have repeatedly submitted proposals to you, which you do not take advantage of.

Especially for the barren areas you have a colossal backlog, the revaluation of the fighting allowance over 12 months overdue, as it was legislated in 2022 with a provision for the MLA to be issued by the end of June 2023!!

In addition, towards the medical world, obligations are pending on your part from 2022 when the conclusion of an MOU between P.I.S. was legislated. – E.O.P.Y.Y., which you have defiantly placed in the file of deeds, although sometimes you use it verbally. Recently, a series of measures related to laboratory doctors have also been added, which in total remain words.

Mr. Minister

The problem of E.S.Y. it is major and due to lack of money particularly complicated. But with threats and violence only complications should be expected.

And of course we regret to predict that the “reforms” concerning hospital doctors’ free time will have little, if any, effect.

In any case, P.I.S. he is by law the official adviser of the state, which whenever he used his suggestions had only positive results. The condition is, of course, that the threats be revoked and that you provide a listening ear.”