A report in the Monday edition of Ta Nea reveals that self-employed insurance fund OAEE is struggling with a serious deficit and is under threat of a collapse, as about one in two self employed are unable to pay their contributions and as such have no medical cover.

The report shows that the trouble insurance fund will have a deficit of about 720 million euros this year and that it is owed about 7.4 billion euros in unpaid contributions. The Insurance Contribution Collection Center will be sending out invoices to OAEE’s 92.000 debtors, who on average owe between 5.000 and 15.000 euros.

The president of the social policy employee federation POPOKP Thanasis Kapotas stressed that there after paying out 265 million euros in pensions in September, there is uncertainty as to how the fund will pay future pensions. Rumors circulating amongst insurance fund officers suggest that OAEE’s dire financial condition is indicative of the overall situation and fear that the worse is yet to come.