Venizélio Hospital ceiling collapse sparks dispute with Health Minister

A section of the ceiling collapsed in an office within the surgical clinic of Venizélio Hospital in Heraklion, Crete. The hospital's employees' union reported that plaster and materials fell to the floor, noting that the incident occurred in a building constructed in 1950 that faces ongoing structural issues. The union has called for immediate funding and a renovation timeline, stating that the safety of staff and patients should not rely on luck.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis responded to the incident, stating that approximately 1.5 square meters of plaster fell in a closed and empty office over the weekend, posing no risk to personnel or patients. He dismissed claims of a collapsing healthcare system, characterizing the event as unpredictable and noting that the hospital's technical service has already begun repairs. Georgiadis emphasized that the government is implementing a major building upgrade program for the National Health System (ESY).