Kos residents protest healthcare shortages and staffing crises

Labor unions, workers, and residents in Kos have organized a protest for November 3 to demand improvements to the island's public healthcare system. Protesters are calling for a fully public, free, and well-staffed medical infrastructure to replace the current system, which they describe as being in a tragic state.

Specific grievances include critical shortages of medical specialists, such as pathologists, pulmonologists, oncologists, dermatologists, endocrinologists, and hematologists. The Kos Hospital is reportedly struggling with insufficient nursing staff in the cardiology clinic, forcing personnel to cover multiple departments to meet basic requirements. Additionally, there are reported shortages in technical, administrative, and cleaning staff.

Concerns were also raised regarding the Antimalaria Health Center, which faces potential closure due to the upcoming retirement of its only physician. Labor groups argue that current government policies prioritize military spending over essential island services, leaving residents to either pay for private care or travel to Athens for medical needs.