Doctors in public hospitals in Greece organized a strike on Friday in Athens, denouncing the "miserable" conditions in which they work and the negative impact on patients. The Panhellenic Federation of Employees in Public Hospitals (POEDHN) emphasized that patients suffer due to the deficiencies of the system, despite the efforts of the staff, who are at the brink of exhaustion.
The protest was organized following a call from the Federation of Hospital Doctors' Unions of Greece (OENGE), which highlighted the severe staffing crisis in public hospitals, drawing attention to low salaries and difficult working conditions. The public health sector has been affected by severe budget cuts during the financial crisis, and health spending in Greece is below the European Union average. The president of OENGE criticized the government for its intention to transform public hospitals into units that operate like businesses, which could lead to a reduction in the budget allocated to health.