MP Ferhat emphasizes urgent need for solutions to hospital crisis
On March 13, 2025, under the leadership of Özgür Ferhat, the Member of Parliament for Rodopi from the New Left Party, a written parliamentary question was submitted to the Ministry of Health.
The question highlighted the serious issues facing hospitals in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, stemming from significant staff shortages and inadequate funding. This crisis, also raised by the region's Medical Chambers, is particularly affecting hospitals in Drama, Xanthi, and Demotika, where the lack of doctors is leading to disruptions in healthcare services and putting citizens' health at risk.
The frequent relocation of doctors between hospitals, as opposed to hiring permanent staff, has exacerbated the problem. The current job postings for new personnel are far from meeting the actual needs of the region. Moreover, according to data from the Greek Medical Association (PIS), there has been a shortage of 45 doctors in the National Health System (ESY) over the past five months, but the Ministry of Health has not provided an official statement on the matter, only questioning the Medical Association’s data through social media.
Calls for urgent measures and reconciliation from the region's Medical Chambers have gone unanswered. In this context, the parliamentary question includes several requests directed at the Minister of Health:
- The government’s acknowledgment of the staffing issue and immediate action to address it.
- The immediate publication of all vacant positions at the hospitals in the region and an increase in funding to ensure the regular operation of these hospitals.
- The Ministry of Health’s presentation of official data regarding recent hiring and departures in the health sector.
- An explanation of why the Ministry of Health has ignored the Medical Chambers' requests for reconciliation and on-site assessments.
