Serious health gap facing the West Mani, as denounced by Manolis Makaris, head of the regional faction «Peloponnese first», with residents and visitors to the area staying virtually uncovered from basic health services.

The Health Centre of Agios Nikolaos operates with just four medical specialists and one rural doctor, where the organisation chart provides for nine experts. The already understaffed medical staff combined with a severe shortage of nursing staff, which numbers barely four persons, unable to meet the increased needs of the region.

The situation becomes even more dramatic when one considers that since 1 January 2025 The Regional Clinics of Kardamyli and Kampos remain closed, while the Clinic of Plata has been closed for months. This means that entire communities have been left without basic primary health care, with the elderly residents to be deprived of even the prescription of their medicines.

Of particular concern is the fact that in West Mani there is no permanent ambulance station. The transport of emergencies is carried out by military personnel instead of certified rescuers, while the doctors of the Health Centre are required to accompany the incidents, thus emptying the Health Centre of the few medical staff it has.

The West Mani is a popular tourist destination, with its population increasing sharply during the summer season. Despite this, the area remains sanitary uncovered, with the risk that both residents and visitors alike could find themselves unprotected in case of an emergency.

Mr Makaris, in his capacity as head of the regional faction «First the Peloponnese», invites the Ministry of Health and the competent authorities to proceed directly in staffing of the Agios Nikolaos Health Centre and the regional clinics, as well as the creation of permanent ambulance station in the region. «It is inconceivable», he stresses, «that an area with thousands of visitors and permanent residents lacks basic health services, putting human lives at risk».