«If I were having a heart attack, I wouldn't want to fall into my own hands - that is, into the hands of an exhausted doctor. You need a doctor to have a clear mind to make the right decisions to save a life,» he says, speaking to the Eph. Thanasis Kontaris. The general family doctor, Attending Physician A« of the Multipurpose Regional Clinic (MPI) of Serifos, who with »a heavy heart’ almost forced (indignant), but at the same time with a feeling of relief« said goodbye to the National System
Health in a shocking letter that dominated the news of the past few days, tells us that he is «giving» his resignation to the citizens and his colleagues -especially those of the Cyclades- whom he calls on to claim together modern health services, which are getting «worse and worse every year».
«If I had a heart attack, I wouldn't want to fall into my own hands - the hands of an exhausted doctor. It takes a clear-headed doctor to make the right decisions to save a life.», he says, speaking to the Eph.Co. Thanasis Kontaris. The general family doctor, the first attending physician of the multi-purpose regional clinic (MPI) of Serifos, who with «heavy-hearted‚ almost forced (indignant), but at the same time with a feeling of relief» bid farewell to the National Health System with a shocking letter that dominated the news of the past few days, he tells us that he is «giving» his resignation to the citizens and his colleagues -especially those of the Cyclades- whom he invites to claim together modern health services, which are getting «worse and worse every year».
● Your letter to the Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, in which you list the reasons that led you to leave your position on the island, created a sensation. Why do you think so?;
This is not the first and will not be the last resignation of a doctor from the National Health System. It is a very difficult situation for those working in it and for patients. There was nothing new in the letter. It is a reality that is not being addressed. I spoke specifically about insularity, without mentioning doctors' salaries, which are non-existent compared to the work we do - to date I have not talked about money.
I work exhausted, which carries the risk of a wrong medical decision. In addition, the burden of responsibility has also exhausted me personally, as a human being. I am appointed as a general practitioner/family doctor and yet I have never managed to organise primary health care, because in practice I am an emergency doctor and not a general practitioner/family doctor. In this reality, without being consulted, I was also appointed as a ’personal doctor«, thus causing confusion among the inhabitants of the island and adding an additional difficulty to my already difficult work.
● Are summers more difficult compared to winters?;
If the winters are hard, the summers are unbearable. The island needs the winters to provide coverage for its population with two general practitioners, a paediatrician, two rural doctors and two nurses. What does he have? One general practitioner, two rural doctors and one nurse. What does that mean? The lack of a paediatrician, I believe, needs no explanation. In addition, the existence of a nurse who works her morning hours, as planned, leaves the island uncovered if something happens after noon and until the next morning. The existence of only one general practitioner is equally problematic. With these facts comes summer on the island which has seen a 40% increase in visitors since 2015. An increase that translates into an increase in demand for health services, without a corresponding increase in the staff of the clinic. We have sent these figures to the Ministry of Health without ever receiving a response.
● What is your everyday life as a working doctor in island Greece?;
I typically work 10 days a month - 1/3 - treating my two fellow rural doctors as equals. But when one of us has been called 4 times on call and is alone, without a nurse, the other two are forced to run. This has also exhausted me personally as a person. Last summer I was on the verge of burnout, which means complete exhaustion physically and mentally. This has had an impact on my family, which is something I didn't want - my family doesn't have to endure all of this because I chose to become a doctor. In addition, I realised that because of the exhaustion and fatigue, my behaviour had also been modified. I became abrupt, I was heading towards losing the human aspect of a doctor because I was forced to stay up 60 days (!) in the summer. But that would have been the least of it, as it is a huge risk for a doctor to work under such conditions. If I were to have a heart attack, I would not want to fall into my hands - that is, into the hands of an exhausted doctor. It takes a clear-headed doctor to make the right decisions to save lives.
● Did you see any movement on the part of the ministry after your resignation?;
The governor of the 2nd Health Region, Mr Roilos, knew of my impending resignation in February. I had informed him that I would not be able to take another summer off. «There are no solutions, the legislation ties our hands,» was the health district's response. Now we are coming up with a solution in cooperation with the municipality. I am waiting for him. He suggested that if I want to stay and privatize and send another doctor to the PI. To me this is unethical, I can't do it. For his part, the minister made statements about sending 2 doctors with an incentive of 1,800 euros. Is he not properly informed? EUR 1 800 is not an incentive. It has been shown. Last year the same thing was done. One has to take into account the doctor's expenses on the island, especially for accommodation and food. It is not an easy decision especially with the family. It's a life decision, it's a huge challenge.
● In your letter you state that «the NHS is by no means a pole of attraction for Greek doctors who have left for abroad’. Why did you return to Greece from Sweden?;
I felt obliged to return to Greece because he had spent a lot of money on my excellent education at the University of Patras Medical School. I wanted to give back what I got. I had no illusions that everything would be perfect, I knew that there would be a degree of difficulty, but not this degree, riveting.
● Has your move been interpreted as a political positioning, as we are in an election period?;
I am not a provocateur, as the right-wingers call me. Nor am I a revolutionary, as the leftists call me. The text is the truth. I want to highlight the importance of the National Health System that is collapsing left to its fate. The difficulties of providing health care, the situation on the islands and especially on the small islands where the inhabitants are treated as third-class citizens. It is wrongly interpreted as a political position. This adds to my frustration. It is a bad thing to try to make something and have it interpreted as you wish in a Greece where values are going through a major crisis. I want to join with the people and my colleagues - especially from the Cyclades - in demanding modern health services together.
