The Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited the Ministry of Healthcare on Thursday morning and announced his plans on restructuring the country’s ailing healthcare system, which will aim to reverse many of the bailout policies, while securing the system’s public nature.
Mr. Tsipras stressed that the previous government’s efforts aimed to support private involvement in health care, which resulted in the commercialization of healthcare that adversely affected the quality of services provided. Mr. Tsipras stressed that healthcare should be accessible to all citizens.
In order to secure the public nature of the healthcare system, the Prime Minister announced that 4.500 specialized staff members will be recruited in order to cover staff shortages in health centers and hospitals. About 750 will be appointed in areas with major shortages, such as the islands, Western Thrace and Thesprotia.
The PM further revealed that he intends to reform the National Organization for Medicines (EOF), while taking initiatives that will support growth in the domestic pharmaceutical industry. The paramount goal, he explained, is to address the people’s needs and the warned that he would not tolerate corruption, fraud and waste, especially in healthcare.
On Wednesday the Government Gazette published the ministerial decision signed by Alt Ministers of Finances Dimitris Mardas, Healthcare Andreas Xanthos and the Labor Minister Panagiotis Skourletis, that abolishes the controversial 5-euro “hospital ticket” and comes into immediate effect.
