2024-05-11 00:46:37
The Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis categorically ruled out the possibility of a new extension for the approximately 150 fixed-term contract employees of the University Hospital of Ioannina, who tried to “gild” the pill, claiming that both hospitals in the city have a larger number of staff compared to 2019. while he committed again, like his predecessors in the past, to break up the 6th Health District.
Mr. Georgiadis, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Maria Kefala, the commander of the 6th Ministry of Health Giannis Karvelis and the deputy commander Giannis Nikopoulos, visited in turn the “Hatzikosta” Hospital and the University Hospital, where he held meetings with the commander (and of the two hospitals) Spyro Derdemezis, the directors of the services and the representatives of the workers’ associations, the doctors and the N.T. of ADEDY. However, the Minister was “welcomed” with banners and slogans by the workers, who gathered at the entrances of the hospitals, without however creating confrontations.
In statements, immediately after the end of the meetings, Mr. Georgiadis underlined the high level of provision of health services provided by both hospitals, while anticipating relevant questions, both he and a little earlier the commander of the 6th Ministry of Health, emphasized that the staff at both hospitals are in absolute numbers more than in 2019.
“Of course, there is always the problem of organizational positions, which have not been 100% paid, but the progress is evident”, noted Mr. Georgiadis, with the organizational positions, however, referring to the Organization for at least a decade, which does not include the fourth building, as well as other departments created.
Especially regarding the issue of PGNI staff, who cover needs in the areas of cleaning, security and catering, and whose contracts expire at the end of June, Mr. Georgiadis even emphasized that it is not a matter of dismissal, since the contracts have expired. His response to the finding that they will be unemployed was that in the catering and security sector one can find a job in Greece very easily. “We have a labor deficit in these industries,” he added.
Mr. Georgiadis, in his statements, referred to the strengthening of the infrastructure, specifically the expansion and modernization of the Emergency Departments and the medical technology equipment of the two hospitals.
As far as the TEP of the “Hatzikosta” Hospital is concerned, there is now a bidder and the project is expected to start. On the contrary, for the TEP of PGNI, after the setbacks of the previous period, it is a “road race” to have a contractor by the end of the summer in order to be able to complete it and not lose the funding of 4.2 million euros from the Fund Recovery.
Of course, time is suffocating and in fact a legislative regulation is required for the building factor, which will be done immediately, as Mr. Georgiadis mentioned, expressing the certainty that the time will come. “We will catch up,” he said characteristically.
Breakdown of the Ministry of Health within the term
The Minister of Health did not specify the time frame for its implementation, but shared the request for the division of the 6th Health Region and the creation of a new one for Epirus and possibly nearby geographical areas, such as the West. Macedonia and the Ionian Islands.
His issue has been raised both by the regional authority and by the deputies of Ioannina, while there was a pre-election commitment of New Democracy, which is valid as Mr. Georgiadis reaffirmed, after his predecessors M. Gaga and Mich. Chrysochoidis, among others.
“During my tenure it will be done. I cannot do it tomorrow, because first I want to be sure of exactly how we will do it, but I accept what the regional governor and the local deputies, Mr. Tasoulas and Ms. Kefala, have stated, that the distance from Konitsa to Kalamata is very long and humanly it creates technical problems, although the Deputy Prime Minister is worthy and spares no effort and time to go everywhere”, noted Mr. Georgiadis.
The reason for the short presence of the Minister of Health in the city’s hospitals was the inauguration of the oxygen production unit at PGNI, which makes the hospital self-sufficient in medical oxygen and saves significant resources.
Mr. Georgiadis talked about a pioneering project, which, as he said, he wanted to visit, while he emphasized that he will soon return to visit the prefecture’s Health Centers and the Hospital of Arta.