Greek Health Minister seeks to appoint interim board of Medical Association

The Panhellenic Medical Association (ΠΙΣ) says a legislative amendment inserted in an unrelated bill would give the Health Minister the power to appoint a temporary administration for the association, sidelining its elected bodies. The proposal would allow the minister to select members of the Governing Committee, the Supreme Disciplinary Council and the Auditing Committee, which ΠΙΣ argues breaches the Constitution’s restriction on state oversight to legality only.

ΠΙΣ notes that the Council of State has already confirmed the association’s full compliance with previous court decisions, and rejects the amendment’s claim that compliance justifies ministerial control. The association urges the government to withdraw the provision and calls on political parties to defend the constitutional guarantee of professional autonomy. A quoted statement from ΠΙΣ reads: "Η διοίκηση του ΠΙΣ δεν διορίζεται, οι ιατροί εκλέγουν τη διοίκησή τους" (The administration of ΠΙΣ is not appointed; doctors elect their administration).