Doctors’ groups oppose Thrace mining vehicle donation to Gümülcine Hospital
The presidents of the medical associations of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace issued a statement opposing the donation of a vehicle to Gümülcine (Komotini) Hospital by the gold mining company Thrace Mining.
In their statement, they emphasized that public health should not depend on corporate donations from activities that have sparked social and environmental concerns. They stressed that supporting public healthcare is the responsibility of the state, not a tool for corporate “social responsibility,” particularly when a company’s presence has divided local communities.
The associations warned that such donations can create a false image of social acceptance and risk undermining social cohesion and the public character of healthcare. They urged the hospital administration to reconsider accepting the vehicle and to uphold the independence and integrity of the National Health System.
Additionally, they called on the government to systematically strengthen hospitals and health centers in the region with adequate staff, equipment, and resources, so that there is no need for external or corporate “solutions.”
“The health of citizens and the environment of our region are supreme social goods; they cannot be weighed, exchanged, or ‘golden-plated,’” the statement concluded.
