Members of Parliament from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) have submitted a question to the Minister of Health regarding the Trifyllio Hospital in Kythira. Read below:
Regarding the Unacceptable Shortages at the General Hospital – Kythira Health Center
The situation at Kythira Hospital is critical; there are massive shortages of medical, nursing, and paramedical staff, resulting in the few remaining employees working grueling shifts for days on end, putting the health of the island’s residents at risk.
This situation is the result of the policy of underfunding public health care systems, which has been implemented by all governments to date, leading to understaffing, weakening, and overall neglect of hospitals and health centers. The disgraceful situation at the Kythira hospital adds to the long list of problems facing hospitals and health facilities throughout the country. Furthermore, it undermines patients’ right to access free, high-quality public health services, as well as hospital workers’ right to work with dignity in 2024.
The following medical staff are currently on duty at the Kythira Hospital: 2 cardiologists, one of whom is an assistant and the other is set to retire in two years, 1 general surgeon, who is also set to retire in the near future; 2 internists, one of whom is an assistant professor; 1 radiologist; 1 dentist; 1 pediatrician, who is on maternity leave, and 1 internal medicine resident. There are no anesthesiologists, orthopedist, gynecologist (no woman can receive prenatal care during her pregnancy, let alone undergo all the necessary preventive gynecological examinations), ophthalmologists, ENT specialists, and gastroenterologists. Furthermore, there is currently no rural medical service doctor serving on the island. Additionally, since August 2023, no surgeries have been performed because there is no anesthesiologist.
The majority of the filled positions are single-doctor posts, which means that doctors are on call practically the entire month, either on active call or on standby. In some cases, medical technologists are called upon to operate diagnostic equipment without a doctor present, so that doctors in the Emergency Department can receive laboratory test results. This issue is not limited to the Kythira Hospital. The problem exists wherever there are single physician positions in facilities with 24-hour on-call shifts.
THE MINISTER IS ASKED, what measures will the government take to ensure that:
– Immediately hire all necessary permanent, full-time, and full-time staff at the Kythira Hospital.
– Increase funding for the hospital from the state budget so that all departments can operate with modern equipment that meets patients’ needs.
– To ensure the protection of the health of the residents of Kythira.
Members of Parliament
- Nikos Abatielos
- Manolakou Diamanto
- Daga Vivi
- Digenis Semina
- Kanelli Liana
- Katsotis Christos
- Ktena Aphrodite
- Christos Tsochanis
