Patras health center faces staffing crisis after patient denied treatment

A psychiatric patient in Patras was unable to receive a critical, scheduled injection at the Northern Sector Health Center due to severe staffing shortages. The patient reportedly visited the facility twice in a single day; first in the morning, when they were told to return in the afternoon due to the absence of a psychiatrist, and again in the afternoon, only to be informed that the on-duty psychiatrist had taken leave.

The incident highlights a broader crisis regarding the understaffing of mental health structures in the region. The health center, which serves more than one-third of the population of Patras, currently operates with only three psychiatrists, one of whom is on maternity leave. This shortage has made it difficult to maintain the strict 15-day administration schedule required for certain long-acting injectable treatments.