From mid-November, as previously announced, the free afternoon surgeries will begin in public hospitals, as the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, told SKAI.

The Ministry of Health will contact patients who are on a waiting list for more than 4 months to a year, in order to make an appointment for the operation.

It is estimated that the afternoon surgeries involve 37,500 operations.

Regarding the OENGE hospital doctors’ strike: “All that they are asking for, wage increases and hiring, the government is already doing,” said the minister.

Regarding the problems and shortcomings observed in the National Health System, Mr. Georgiadis emphasized that “today the National Health System works better than ever, for example most hospitals no longer have ranches”.

Disclosures about overprescriptions

In the revelation that a fine of 800,000 euros was imposed on a doctor who, within a month, prescribed thousands of preparations using his mother’s AMKA, the Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis proceeded.

Speaking to SKAI shortly before the ministry’s press conference, Mr. Georgiadis emphasized that the first findings of doctors who overprescribe drugs to steal money will be presented.

The minister underlined that so far more than 100 doctors have been identified and they have already sent the first notes for apologies and evidence to the financial prosecutor, while pointing out that criminal sanctions will be imposed. “Overprescriptions increase the pharmaceutical expenditure for EOPYY by at least 50 million euros”, said Mr. Georgiadis