Corfu’s Public Health System at a Critical Juncture: A Government Responsibility
The state of public health structures in Corfu is causing intense concern and can no longer be postponed. The General Hospital of Corfu, Health Centers, and EKAV (National Center for Emergency Care) are facing serious and long-standing problems of understaffing, underfunding, and operational pressure, which have a direct impact on the quality and safety of the care provided.
The government and the Ministry of Health bear full political responsibility for the current situation. Despite repeated observations and known problems, the necessary measures for the permanent reinforcement of human resources and infrastructure have not been taken. Treating health as a secondary priority undermines a fundamental social right.
On an island with increased needs due to its geographical peculiarities and intense tourist activity, the adequacy of health services is not an option but an obligation of the State. The citizens of Corfu cannot feel insecure about their access to basic health services, nor can they be financially burdened for services that the public system is obliged to provide.
The protection of public health is a responsibility of the state and cannot remain in a state of continuous degradation. We support the call of the Corfu Labor Center, the Prefectural Department of ADEDY, and the pensioner organizations because substantial and permanent staffing of the General Hospital of Corfu, Health Centers, and EKAV is REQUIRED, as well as adequate and stable funding for public health, and a comprehensive plan that takes into account the real needs of the island and its residents.
The government must provide immediate and specific answers. The rally is a response to the policy that sacrifices the health of the people for the interests of private health providers.
