Kalymnos Medical Association Presents Critical Priorities
The Provincial Medical Association of Kalymnos “Skevos Zervos” presented a comprehensive agenda of healthcare priorities to Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis during a meeting held at the Kalymnos District Office, following his visit to the island for the inauguration of the new Emergency Department (ED). Members of Parliament from the Dodecanese and Kalymnos Deputy Regional Governor Emmanouil Mousellis also attended the meeting.
The Medical Association outlined seven key priorities aimed at strengthening public healthcare across the islands. Among the most pressing issues was the need to increase the number of rural doctors to ensure the safe operation of the newly inaugurated Emergency Department. Minister Georgiadis pledged to increase the available positions for rural physicians.
The meeting also focused on housing allowances for doctors serving in island communities. The Association highlighted inconsistencies in how municipalities interpret the legal framework. The Minister clarified that granting the allowance falls entirely within the discretion of each municipality, while the Medical Association announced plans to meet with all local mayors to ensure the benefit is applied uniformly.
Additional requests included the immediate staffing of the new Cardiology Department, further support for the Hemodialysis Unit, the recruitment of an auxiliary psychiatrist to address growing mental health and addiction care needs, and broader measures to improve accountability and make Greece’s National Health System (ESY) more attractive to healthcare professionals willing to serve in island regions. According to the Association, the Minister responded positively and committed to advancing these initiatives.
The Association also expressed concern over the increasing number of air and sea medical evacuations, proposing the establishment of a special review committee to evaluate transfers, identify weaknesses in local hospitals, and strengthen island healthcare services in order to reduce unnecessary patient transfers.
Τhe Provincial Medical Association thanks Kalymnos Deputy Regional Governor Emmanouil Mousellis for hosting the meeting and facilitating a thorough discussion of the healthcare challenges facing the islands of the Kalymnos district.
