Helliniko
03 May 2013
PRESS
RELEASE
A
visit from the United Nations to the Metropolitan Community Clinic at Helliniko
On April 27, 2013 Mr.
Cephas Lumina, an independent expert from the office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights of the UN visited MCCH. Mr Lumina is studying the social consequences
of rigid austerity policies imposed in Greece
During his visit he determined
that a major problem is the lack of health coverage for uninsured and
unemployed patients. Doctors discussed
with him their deep concerns for uninsured patients. They may find community clinics such as ours
for primary care, but if a patient needs further hospitalization or major
surgery, they will have to pay for these services. If they cannot pay, this debt will be
transferred to their tax bill.
Non-payment of these debts carries legal implications – perhaps even as
far as imprisonment. The volunteers of
MCCH provided Mr Lumina with specific cases they have documented of this lack
of coverage including cancer patients who have suffered irreversible damage to their
health. Finally Mr. Lumina asked
us whether there are proposals from the state
for the coverage of uninsured citizens.
MCCH’s Dr. George Vichas told him that
various solutions are being explored. One
example is a proposal to establish a special fund with the revenues coming in from
medical services provided to citizens of other countries.
MCCH strongly disapproves
of the inability to process check-outs in state hospitals from 15:00 hours
until the next morning. This results in
money lost in the hospitalization of citizens from other countries who are
insured; money that would help cover the needs of uninsured citizens.
Mr. Lumina informed us
that it will include all his findings in his report, which will be conveyed to
the Greek Government.
