Papanikolaou Hospital inaugurates new cellular therapy wing

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art wing for Cellular and Gene Therapies and Hematology Laboratories at Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki. The three-story facility, constructed with 13.7 million euros from the Resilience and Recovery Fund, is designed to provide specialized treatments that can cost up to 400,000 euros per patient.

Despite the technological advancement, the facility faces operational challenges due to a significant shortage of staff, with reports indicating 300 nursing vacancies. During the inauguration, former patient Georgia Xanthopoulou, who recovered from leukemia, spoke about the improved conditions compared to the severe overcrowding and lack of resources she experienced years ago.

While the new infrastructure marks a major milestone for specialized medical care in the region, healthcare workers and medical staff have raised concerns regarding the ability to fully utilize the new wing without addressing the critical personnel deficit.