Local workers talk about the tragic picture in the Kos hospital a month before the start of the tourist season, during which more than 1,500,000 people will be on the island.

“The season on Kos starts at Easter and lasts until the end of November. And although we were the fourth most popular island destination last year, we do not have a pathologist and pulmonologist in the hospital“begins to describe in “K” Garifalia Karanasupresident of hospital workers.

As she adds, in the kidney department, where she herself works as a nurse nephrologist attends 35 hemodialysis patients, and if necessary, patients are referred to Kalymnos.

She emphasizes that the problems in the hospital are eternal, but every year the shortcomings become more and more obvious. “There is one Health Center in Antimachianext to an airport that has never functioned properly since it opened some 15 years ago. He has a therapist who just prescribessays Ms. Caranasiou, explaining that the problems spread in many directions.

Characteristic is the fact that the island, with a permanent population of about 40,000, is served by only one EKAB ambulance, since, as Ms. Karanasiou explains, there are two more donated vehicles that remain parked due to lack of staff. “Our countryman died of a heart attack because he had been waiting for an ambulance for a long time. There have never been such losses due to delay.

According to “K”, the absence of a pathologist, neurologist, pulmonologist, as well as the absence of a pediatrician on the island for several years led to the phenomenon patients to call the private doctors of the island to examine them in the hospitalwhile in winter air travel to Rhodes, Crete, Athens or wherever space is available is a daily occurrence.

Fruitless ads and a bonus of 1800 euros

In January last year, with an amendment made to the bill of the Ministry of Health, it was decided to pay a monthly cash incentive of 1,800 euros to doctors and 1,200 euros to nurses and other staff for temporary transfers for official reasons to other nursing structures. This will be in effect during the summer period, i.e. from June 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

However, doctors on the island doubt that this particular proposal will be able to solve many of the problems faced by regional hospitals, and note that it does not solve the situation that residents face during the winter months.

Speaking with “K” Katerina Gavala, President of the Medical Association of Kos and Director of ESY – Ophthalmologist at the hospital, emphasizes that the main problem is the fruitless job postings for doctors, every time an attempt is made to solve this problem. “Those doctors who see that a vacancy is advertised in our hospital and find out that there is no other therapist decide not to apply because they know that they will start working non-stop. The hospital polyclinic needs at least three pathologists to take out intensive care units, examine people in intensive care at the same time, and also serve regular polyclinics.”

She mentions revealingly that last summer 18 doctors moved to Kos, however, their stay lasted from a few days to a month, thus covering the shortcomings in a very temporary and fragmentary way. While the pathologist, who was recently transferred to Kos Hospital, will only stay there for 10 days as she is expected to leave on Friday 17 March.

So it seems that financial incentives alone are not enough to convince doctors to move to hospitals in the region, as the president of POEDIN states in turn, Michalis Giannakos. “These bonuses could pay off if they were given for the same period to newly hired doctors where positions are requested through advertisements. Doctors from urban centers, and especially pathologists, who can prescribe in large volumes and their offices are always full, find it difficult to decide to move to the countryside. But if you tell a doctor that after three years in the area, he can then choose a hospital and gradually evolve from Supervisor B’ to Supervisor A’, then maybe more people will be convinced.”

Thoughts on expanding incentives

Talking to the “K”, Mr. Minister of Health, Thanos Pleurisargued that last summer in many islands, such as the Cyclades, financial incentives brought doctors to regional hospitals, many of whom came from the field and worked there for shorter or longer periods, combining their choice with vacation.

“We understand that the problem escalates in the winter months, so there is an idea to extend the bonuses of 1200 and 1800 euros for the winter season as well,” the minister noted and added that there are announcements specifically on the issue of Kos. as two pathologists. “We will wait to see if there is interest or if they prove fruitless. If the latter happens, we will use part-time private doctors. We want to believe it will work.”

He also mentioned seven general practitioners working on the island, noting that they may work as pathologists as the Ministry of Health is considering closing the legal loophole, given that they are not officially listed as pathologists, so that they do not feel insecure. According to him, general practitioners are specialties that exist on the islands and can be additionally activated.