Public hospitals face major shortages in staff, equipment

Major delays at emergency units and shortages in staff, including doctors and paramedics, at Greek public hospitals have been highlighted in a report penned by the Federation of Public Hospital Workers (POEDIN). The report, based on inspections carried out at 61 Greek National Health Service (ESY) facilities, also pointed to a lack of adequate medical equipment.

At the Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki, for instance, patients at the emergency unit had to wait up to eight hours to be seen, while at Nikaia Hospital, near Piraeus, they faced a wait of up to seven hours.

According to staff, certain hospitals were unable to carry out troponin tests ordered to help diagnose heart attacks, for instance, while in many cases those escorting patients acted as paramedics.

Traffic at emergency units has increased by 40 percent in the last three years, the survey noted.

Many patients left hospitals without being examined, the report concluded.