Public hospital staff say slashed state funding has depleted medical supplies
Public hospital staff threatened to take strike action on Wednesday, charging the government with further slashing already reduced budgets that prevent hospitals from providing free and quality services to the public.
The National Federation of Public Hospital Staff (POEDIN) - which includes public hospitals, health centres and the emergency ambulance service (EKAV) - said that ministry of health data shows the operational budgets of hospitals have been reduced by 60 percent in the last four years. "Staff has charged that they are forced to buy medical supplies at private pharmacies with their own funds for reasons of hygiene and safecty," an announcement they issued said.
POEDIN said the previous government had reduced the operational expenditures of hospitals in the current state budget by 20 percent, but the new government decide to start its cutbacks from hospitals as well. It said in March the monthly operational budgets will by slashed by 51 percent. The hospital management will also have to cover operational expenditures for March with 49 percent of the credits allocated to them in January and February 2015.
The new minister has asked hospital management for a record of all shortcomings in medical material, but these are not obvious the first two months of the year, the union said, charging the government with a "communications ploy."
Meanwhile, Alternate Health Minister Andreas Xanthos signed off on a call for 104 doctors to staff hospitals throughout Greece, especially in rural parts of the country. The ministry's priority is to complete regulation for the hiring of 800 assistant doctors and the calling of 1,095 openings for permanent staff in medical and nursing positions.
Representatives of the licenced practical nurses of Greece union (ENE) met with Alternate minister for Administrative Reform George Katrougalos and discussed the immediate need of hirings to cover needs, among other issues, even if restrictions had to be suspended.
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