The Protest at Alexandra Hospital was a Great Success
A peaceful
protest at the entrance of the Alexandra Hospital was successfully carried out
on 17 October 2013. The day was the day
of action of the Volunteer Community Clinics and Pharmacies in hospitals all
across the country. Participating in the
action were The Metropolitan Community Clinic at Helliniko, The Community
Clinic and Pharmacy for Solidarity of Athens, Society
of Cancer Patients, Volunteers, Friends and Physicians (KEFI) and The Team for
Solidarity for those with Muscular Sclerosis.
The protest was to give a strong voice to
women’s organizations, and the movement “I will not pay”. Doctors and nurses of the hospital and as
well as our patients and private citizens, took part. The goal of the protest was to demonstrate, yet
once again, that all must have equal access to health care including, of
course, the uninsured.
A
delegation of the protesters participated in a meeting with the assistant
director of the hospital. She gave a
personal undertaking that the hospital will accept, from here on, uninsured
pregnant women who will be able to give birth with dignity and that there will
be no cost passed on to them, or costs passed on to their tax debt. This is a significant step in our battle to
open the state hospitals to all uninsured citizens. This, the state is obligated to do, but does
not do it. But the employees of the
hospitals, in solidarity with simple citizens, are doing what they can to honor
this obligation.
We gave a
clear message of the inalienable right of all to LIFE and DIGNITY. We have asked for a written answer the
hospital’s undertaking. We will continue
our struggle with the same unwavering firm stance that ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO
LIFE.
