Greek mother faces healthcare funding hurdles to donate kidney to son

Evangelia Kapardina, a 65-year-old woman in Greece, is attempting to lose 40 kilograms to qualify as a kidney donor for her 12-year-old son, who has been on a transplant waiting list for three years due to diabetes.

Kapardina reports significant financial and systemic hurdles regarding the state obesity treatment program. Although over 45,000 people are eligible for free high-cost medication through the program, she alleges that she has been forced to pay for her own injections, costing 250 euros each, since late June.

In addition to medication costs, she cited difficulties accessing public healthcare services, noting long wait times for specialists and the necessity of paying for private examinations to avoid delays. She stated that she has received no response from the Ministry of Health regarding the promised support.