Ioannina healthcare workers announce strikes amid hospital renovations

Healthcare workers in Ioannina, Greece, have announced a series of strikes and protests targeting public health and welfare structures. The actions, organized by ADEDY and the Association of Hospital Doctors of Epirus (EINH), coincide with the official inauguration of the renovated Emergency Department at the University General Hospital of Ioannina (PGNI) by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.

Labor representatives argue that the renovations do not address systemic issues, including severe staff shortages, inadequate funding, and exhausting working conditions. At the PGNI, doctors have raised concerns regarding the fragmentation of services, noting that the pediatric emergency unit remains outside the main area without sufficient facilities for short-term hospitalization or oxygen administration.

Protests are scheduled at both the University General Hospital and Hadjikostas Hospital. Workers emphasize that ceremonial inaugurations fail to reflect the daily struggles of staff and the deteriorating quality of service provided to citizens due to long-standing structural deficiencies.