Patras doctors and municipality protest hospital crisis

Doctors and municipal authorities in Patras are organizing a protest at the gates of the Agios Andreas General Hospital on October 1 to address the deteriorating state of public healthcare in the region.

The Association of Hospital Doctors of Achaia (EINA) and the Patras Municipal Authority have highlighted several critical issues, including severe understaffing and unsafe operating conditions. Recent flooding at the Gennimatas building of the Patras General Hospital forced the suspension of services, resulting in the cancellation of over 1,000 patient appointments and treatments. Additionally, the radiology department at the Karamanidai Children's Hospital has faced prolonged issues.

Protesters are demanding an end to the practice of frequently transferring doctors between different health units to cover shortages elsewhere, such as the recent movement of an anesthesiologist from Patras to Zakynthos. The municipal authorities are calling for the urgent recruitment of medical and paramedical staff through expedited procedures and the immediate restoration of services in affected hospital departments.