Disgruntled hospital staff protest outside Greek ministry

Public hospital staff used chains to block the entrance to the Health Ministry in central Athens yesterday during a protest at staff shortages and a lack of funding.

Union members also staged a sit-in at the ministry on Aristotelous Street.

“A year ago, the prime minister promised to hire 4,500 people and to increase funding,” said Federation of Public Hospital Employees (POEDIN) president Michalis Yiannakos, who added that neither of the pledges materialized.

“Instead funding has been slashed, while, according to the latest figures, workers of the national health system [ESY] have been reduced by 25,000.”