Greek Health Ministry partners with Airbnb to provide free summer housing for doctors on Aegean islands

The Greek Ministry of Health has reached an agreement with Airbnb.org, the nonprofit arm of the short‑term rental platform, to sponsor free accommodation for healthcare workers on five popular Aegean islands. The pilot program will run from late July to late September, with the first homes available from August 1, covering doctors, nurses and ambulance crews assigned to island facilities. The islands involved are Santorini, Paros, Ios, Rhodes and Tinos. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said the homes will be ready at the start of August and that the scheme aims to resolve the chronic shortage of housing for staff during the peak tourist season. Selection of beneficiaries will be handled by the ministry. The initiative expands Airbnb.org’s “medical stays” programme, which already operates in ten countries, and full coverage of all islands is planned for the following summer.