Out-of-hours surgery practice in public hospitals protested

A group of doctors protested against the practice of performing out-of-hours routine surgeries for a certain fee in some public hospitals in Greece, which started yesterday.

Justice Minister Yorgos Floridis spoke at an event organised in Thessaloniki on the occasion of the European Day of Awareness on Violence against Physicians and Other Health Workers.

According to Greek media reports, a group of doctors and health workers entered the hall during Floridis' speech, shouting various slogans and expressing their opposition to the practice of performing routine surgery out of hours.

According to the news reports, doctors emphasised that the implementation, which was initiated by the decision of the Ministry of Health, will not solve the long waiting lists, especially in Thessaloniki hospitals.

Apostolos Anthopoulos, a doctor working at the Papageorgiu Hospital in Thessaloniki, told reporters that out-of-hours surgeries benefit those in good financial condition.

Anthopulos stated that there is a shortage of staff even in morning operations.

In the news, it was stated that the out-of-hours surgery fees vary between 300 and 2000 euros and that the out-of-hours evening surgeries will be performed in Papageorgiu, Agios Pavlos and Ahepa hospitals in Thessaloniki, Genimata in Athens, Alexandroupolis and Kavala hospitals.

The Minister of Health was also protested

On the other hand, Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis, who visited Papageorgiu hospital where the first out-of-hours surgery was performed, was verbally attacked by a person.

"Health care is not a commercial product. It should be provided for the welfare and health of society", the protester chanted.