Child protection and hospital placement in Greece

Authorities in Greece are increasingly utilizing pediatric hospitals as interim housing for children removed from unsafe domestic environments due to neglect, abuse, or malnutrition.

In Preveza, an investigation was launched into the severe neglect of three siblings from the Ziros Municipality. Following a prosecutor's order, the children were transferred to Preveza General Hospital after medical exams confirmed significant malnutrition. Concerns were raised by POEDHN president Michalis Giannakos regarding the lack of security for the minors at the facility.

Broadening the scope to Athens, reports indicate that approximately 45 children are currently residing in major pediatric hospitals under prosecutorial orders. These cases include high-profile instances of extreme neglect and abuse, such as a case in Kypseli involving siblings facing issues ranging from pregnancy to drug addiction. Medical staff noted that pediatric facilities see over 450 such children annually, highlighting a systemic issue where children are often returned to unsuitable environments rather than being transitioned into permanent protective care.

In a recent development in Kypseli, authorities are investigating the death of an infant. Three suspects have been remanded in custody on drug trafficking charges, while a couple is scheduled to appear in court facing charges of ‘intentional homicide of a family member by complicity’. The defendants are expected to challenge forensic findings attributing the death to criminal action. This investigation follows a pattern of reported child welfare crises, including the 2022 Kolonos case of sexual exploitation and recent data from early 2025 indicating approximately six arrests per day related to child neglect.