The never ending story of the operation of the hospital in Thera

Although the new hospital is ready and fully equipped, from 2011, remains closed as the government and particularly the Ministry of Health "refuses" to recruit staff, and claims that it cannot bear the cost of operation.

The issue was brought again by the MP of Athens, Nikitas Kaklamanis with his question to the Minister of Health, Makis Voridis, on August 28. A day earlier, began the collect of electronic signatures for the opening of the hospital, which is an initiative of the islanders.

"Since 2011, a brand new hospital is constructed on Santorini island in Greece, but has not been put into operation yet, due to the Greek Economic Crisis and the lack of political will to solve the problem. Santorini is one of the most famous & touristic islands in Greece, known for it's beauty, voted several times as the most beautiful island in the world and in Europe by travel magazines and organizations. 15.000 locals stay on the island all year around, and aprox. 2million tourists visit the island every season. Whilst, there is only basic healthcare services, provided by one public health center and one private (and very expensive) medicine center. In case of emergency incidents, patients have to be flown with the municipality airplane to Athens or nearby Crete hospitals. Local people are deprived of any sufficient healthcare, women are forced to move to Athens in order to give birth, people are lacking of fundamental security in their lives, because there is no hospital on the island.

The new hospital that is closed, is fully equipped already with maternity rooms, operation rooms, emergency, exam labs and much more, fully ready to work!!! Help us raise awareness!!!!!"

With these words, residents of the island and the Southern Association of Tourist Enterprises in Santorini, request the assistance of the public so the government to listen to them. (https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_Greek_Government_Open_the_Hospital_of_Santorini_island/?sfPCkib).

Mr. Kaklamanis, for his part, stressed by his question to the House, a number of aspects of the matter, which request an immediate response:

"Mr. Minister, on January 30, 2013, I submitted a question to the then Minister of Health, Mr. Andreas Lykourentzos about the progress of the construction, and the operation of the hospital in Santorini.

In response I received from Mr. A. Lykourentzos on March 6, 2013, was acknowledged the considerable delay in completion of the project but stressed that needed about 1.6 million Euros (From 13.9 million in funding through the program of Public investment) to complete and operate the hospital, since they remained only "small scale work".

After 1.5 years, I visited Santorini again and I asked about the hospital and if the problems were overcome in order to be available to the public. Then, I was informed the following:

18 months after my question, it was not delivered to the state! The company which had undertaken the construction of the hospital and also the construction of a road on the island, uses the hospital premises as offices for other activities as well as the rooms of the hospital as a place for housing its workers (!) because the state owes the repayment of the hospital. I ASK THE MINISTER: when will the state take the hospital?

Have you fulfilled the repayment of 1.6 million Euros, which was remaining as I was informed by Mr. A.. Lykourentzos? And if not, why not? What has happened to the 'small scale work' which remained to finish the project? Have you been informed about the use of the premises of the hospital, either as offices or as dormitories for workers? Have you given permission for this, to the company? Is there a full timetable for the operation of the hospital (e.g. recruitment?)"?

It is worth noting that the former Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, with a letter in August 2013, to the mayor of Santorini, asked the municipality to cover the operating costs of the new hospital, otherwise he would transport the equipment elsewhere and would give the new hospital of Thera in HRADF. Several months later, the intentions of the then minister, to operate the hospital as PPP, were revealed in Parliament by the MP of the Independent Greeks, Marina Chrysoveloni. As she stated in her question, the purpose of the hospital for Mr. Georgiadis, instead of the coverage of the care needs of the population, is the development of medical tourism and its operation in private-enterprise basis.

"In other words he is blackmailing the citizens of Santorini, to accept the operation of the hospital by a private operator or otherwise the public hospital will go in auction by Mr. Stournaras! (..) It is also clear that the Minister of Health deliberately and systematically implement an extortionate policy of privatization of health at the expense of society," said Mrs. Chrysoveloni.

The current leadership of the Ministry of Health is required to solve the problem and finally to hire the needed staff for the hospital in Thera, so the locals to have access to public hospital services, as they are entitled.