Six in ten doctors want to leave Greece and exactly 6 in 10 citizens declare to be dissatisfied with the services of the public health care system that has worsened in the last 2-4 years, two recent surveys conducted in northern Greece have found. The National Health System (ESY) is deteriorating day by day and very fast, while Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis rejects the fast downgrading of health care and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis keeps heralding again and again the improvement of health services.
At the same time, patients wait 6 to 8 hours at the hospitals emergencies, as there are 8,500 vacancies in doctors, in hospitals, health centers and emergency rooms, as representatives of the doctors of the National Health System told Mega TV.
Emergencies are estimated to be visited annually by four million patients.
Patient in need of a surgery can wait up to two years, expect for emergency life-saving operations. Otherwise they pay extra several hundred euros to fix their health problem in the so call “afternoon surgeries.”
Survey citizens
Six out of ten citizens stated that they are dissatisfied with the services offered by the ESY, and one in two saying they have worsened in the last two to three years.
According to a poll conducted July 5-12, 2024 by To The Point on behalf of the Medical Association in Thessaloniki and a sample of 1,102 people:
- 56.7% of the participants declared dissatisfied with ESY services offered in the country, compared to just 26.7% who are satisfied.
Among the dissatisfied, the percentage of women is 54.5% and of men 48.7%, while the highest percentage of dissatisfied (56.4%) is in the 25-35 age group.
- 48.7% of the respondents expressed the opinion that the quality of the provided health services has worsened in the last 2-3 years, while 26.3% that it has improved.
For their medical treatment:
- 66.1% stated that they mainly visit private practices
- 35.7% hospitals
- 20.2% doctors contracted with national insurer EOPYY
- 8.2% Health Centers-PEDY Clinics
- 6.4% private polyclinics/clinics .
82.8% of the respondents stated that they consistently visit the same doctor. Rate 27.7% visit a doctor for any health problem, 27.7% on a regular basis for check-ups, 22.6% only for a serious health problem, 12.6% for specific tests, 5.1% for treatment / follow-up of a permanent health problem.
62.8% said they find a private doctor through friends, 18.7% through the recommendation of other doctors and 15.5% through the Internet.
A percentage of 72.1% considers that the cost of medical services has increased in the last two-three years, while 22.5% states that it has remained the same.
Note that social security contributions including health care and pension are mandatory in Greece.
A percentage of 43.8% considers that the cooperation of the NHS with private health agencies will improve health services while 20.1% say it will worsen them.
Regarding the latest regulations of the Ministry of Health for paid afternoon surgeries, 50% express a negative opinion and 30.8% positive.
59% of young doctors want to leave Greece
The Medical Association of Thessaloniki has also presented the results of another survey conducted among young doctors working in public ESY hospitals.
Realizing the importance of the problems faced by trainees and young doctors today, created a questionnaire in order to record the issues that concern them, with the aim of creating proposals and actions for their improvement.
The survey was conducted among 320 doctors working mainly in hospitals of the 3rd and 4th health regions of Thessaloniki.
- 59% of young doctors intend to continue practicing medicine outside of Greece.
According to survey results, participants expressed “frustration” about
51.3% expressed frustration with
- the educational process at 51.3%
- access to educational materials and literature at 55.6%
60% stated that there are not equal educational opportunities based on residency time.
With regard to violence in the work environment, 76% of the participants stated that they had suffered physical or verbal violence from an attendant or patient, with higher percentages found in women, 62.2% had suffered workplace bullying from a colleague and in 50% of cases it came from medical specialist. 33.8% believe that the new law regarding the prison sentence in cases of violence against medical nurses increases the feeling of safety in the working environment.
Regarding working hours, burnout syndrome and financial rewards:
- 70% of young doctors stated, they suffer from burnout syndrome
- 86% consider the work environment burdensome
- 55% expressed disappointment with the infrastructure provided in hospitals.
Regarding the building infrastructure and services provided by the Ministry of Health, 55% expressed disappointment with the hospital on-call staff, 57% disappointment with the meals provided, 61% disappointment with the building structure of the hospital.
