Minister issues warning to private doctors

In a desperate bid to tackle shortages, the Health Ministry has warned private doctors to support the operation of hospitals of the National Health System (ESY) that have gaps in critical specialties, or face "drastic measures" if there is no willingness to cooperate.

More specifically, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis indirectly left open the possibility that there may be restrictions on the possibility of private doctors making electronically prescriptions in the National Organization for Healthcare Provision (EOPYY) insurance fund if they refuse to offer paid help to ESY.

There were strong reactions from the Professional Association of Greek Pathologists, while the president of the Panhellenic Medical Association stressed to Kathimerini that "the issue is not how to get private doctors to help ESY, but how to attract new doctors to hospitals."