Urgent Appeal to Laiko Hospital and the Ministry of Health

Helliniko 6 August 2013

PRESS RELEASE

Urgent Appeal to Laiko Hospital and the Ministry of Health

A 53 year old INSURED cancer patient STILL does not have the medication essential to continue his therapy.  We wrote about this issue a few days ago, but unfortunately the situation is not resolved.  Last week we issued an appeal to the Ministry of Health and Laiko hospital regarding this patient.  On Friday 2 Aug 2013, the patient spoke by telephone to those responsible at Laiko hospital.  They promised that the patient would have his medication by mid-day on the same day.  As of Tuesday 6 August the patient still does not have his medication.  The hospital informs him that he may have to wait until Friday 9 August before he can start his therapy.

Can the Laiko Hospital and the Minister of Health please tell us why an INSURED citizen has been put in harm’s way in this manner?  Why is it impossible for him to receive the medication that he needs?

And if the Public Health System reacts to the needs of the insured in this way (this patient is not the only such case) then what about the uninsured?  What kind of assistance are they getting? 

We and the other volunteer community clinics have a clear picture of what’s happening to them because we each treat, daily, dozens of uninsured and desperate patients.  On behalf of the Greek people we ask the Ministry of Health, loud and clear, for an answer.  How will this situation be resolved?

For further information regarding the appeal that we made on behalf of this cancer patient, you can read here:  http://mki-ellinikou.blogspot.gr/2013/08/blog-post.html   in Greek and http://mkie-foreign.blogspot.gr/2013/08/an-insured-cancer-patient-finds-it.html for English.

An Insured Cancer Patient finds it impossible to obtain medication from the Greek National Health System

Helliniko, 1 August 2013

PRESS RELEASE

"An Insured Cancer Patient finds it impossible to obtain medication from the Greek National Health System"

It is with deep regret that we announce the desperate situation of a cancer patient who, even though he HAS insurance, is not being covered by the state hospital where he was first treated and diagnosed.  As can be seen from the documentation below (with his name crossed out for obvious reasons) the state hospital is not providing him with his medication.  It is a deadly serious matter and obviously indicative of the tragic state of the Greek Public Health Care System. 

More specifically, a 53 year old cancer patient, with a valid health care booklet (in other words, he is insured) finds it impossible to find life saving medication from the state health system.  As a result, he cannot start the treatment that his doctors have advised him to start on the 2nd of August.  

Citing this case, please call the Ministry of Health and ask them to find an IMMEDIATE solution to the problem of this individual.  While they’re at it, they could answer why patient health is just left to chance. 

Finally, let’s consider the tens of thousands of citizens who are NOT insured.  They face a much worse prospect with no access at all to the National Health System unless of course, they have the ability to pay for services. 

The Ministry of Health must give a solution, because clearly the correct way to reduce the large sums spent on health is not to withhold necessary medication from its patients.

 

The collapse of the public health system in Greece through the camera the BBC

Below is the entire video BBC reporting on the dramatic situation of the public health system in Greece. You’ll also hear the outright lies voiced by spokesman of the ministry of health regarding the uninsured citizens in our country.  Our own comments are unnecessary.

Representative of the Ministry of Health Revealed on the BBC

Helliniko 18 July 2013

PRESS RELEASE

Representative of the Ministry of Health Revealed on the BBC

We don’t easily send out any press release accusing anyone, no matter what his position, of falsehood.  However, when Mr. Panos Efstathiou, an administrator of the National Center of Health of the Ministry of Health, looks straight into the camera and lies to a BBC reporter, we feel that we have to say something.  The BBC reporter, Zeinab Badawi interviewed Mr. Efstathiou and asked him if allegations were valid that uninsured patients were required to pay large sums for life saving operations and were, therefore were essentially shut out of the public health service.

The dialogue was as follows:

Ms. Badawi:  On the sufficient evidence of a health crisis in Greece, I thought it was time to take my concerns to the Ministry of Health in Athens. (Speaking to Mr. Efstathiou) Is it the case that anybody in Greece who cannot afford to buy necessary drugs from the pharmacists or who needs an operation, if they cannot afford to pay, that the state will provide adequate care?

Mr. Efstathiou:  Mrs. Badawi, in Greece, the large majority of Greeks are insured in the public health system.  There are people who cannot afford their insurance scheme because they did not have the money, because they are in a difficult economic situation.  The government has decided that this will not affect their treatment in the national health care system.

Ms Badawi:  I’ve met one elderly man who needed a life saving operation.  He got it, but it cost him €6,000.  The hospital was pursuing him for payment.  But it was causing him and his family a great deal of stress.  Do you accept that that kind of cases is going on and that he is perhaps one of many?

Mr. Efstathiou:  There is no such case.  There is no one who uses the Public Health System who will have to pay any money.

Ms. Badawi:  The fact that there is an increasing number of community clinics that has grown from a hand-full last year to now nearly 40 would show that there is a greater need on the part of the people for such free voluntary services.

Mr. Efstathiou:  I would say that I see it differently. There is an effort for people to help one another.  That is evidence that a society, operating in austerity and difficulty.  These are positive signs for a civilization and society.  Not signs of disintegration.

You can see the video with the above dialogue here: 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCT8B31x7U4

A question for the Ministry of Health and specifically for the newly named Minster, Mr. Georgiadis, why does an official of the ministry lie, on camera and why does he try to distract people from the essence of the problem which is nothing more than the inhuman policies instituted by the Ministry allowing uninsured citizens to die without aid, since they do not have money to pay for the hospital or their medications?

Will the Minister of Health back up Mr. Efstathiou, or will he dismiss him.  Also, will they answer, at last, Mr. Minister what will happen with the hundreds of thousands of uninsured patients who have DO NOT HAVE FREE ACCESS to the Public Health System?  Are they just to be allowed to die?  For how long will this problem be ignored as his predecessors ignored it?  For how long will we put the reduction of expenses above the lives of our fellow citizens?

The Metropolitan Community Clinic at Helliniko will continue to denounce the unacceptable policies of austerity which result in harming Greek citizens.  Cancer patients, pregnant women, the young and the old are left to fend for themselves.  This must stop immediately.  We demand a clear answer about what you intend to do!

You can watch the whole BBC reportage here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rkKhwg0EPM&feature=youtu.be

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b037b5kg