Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis announced plans to recruit nurses and doctors and provide free preventive health checks at the KAPI centres in Ioannina during a two-day tour of Epirus.
As part of his two-day tour of Epirus, the health minister opened the fully renovated Metsovo Health Centre, then attended the opening of the refurbished Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department and Radiology Department at Ioannina General Hospital “G. Hatzikosta”.
During his visit to Metsovo, Mr Georgiadis described the project as particularly important for the area, as it upgrades the building infrastructure and medical equipment at the health centre, which serves a mountainous region.
“We have inaugurated one of our most challenging and beautiful projects, in collaboration with the Region of Epirus and Mr Kachrimanis,” the minister said, describing it as “infrastructure for decades to come”.
He noted that “with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, 170 health centres and 93 hospitals across the country have been renovated”, stressing that “support for the National Health System will continue”.
€1.85 million in works at Hatzikosta
The refurbished Accident and Emergency Department and Radiology Department were opened at Ioannina General Hospital “G. Hatzikosta”. The two projects, with a combined budget of €1.85 million, were funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
During his visit to the hospital, the health minister also referred to efforts to strengthen staffing, announcing that “14 auxiliary nurses are expected in the coming period. These appointments will be in addition to the 16 permanent nursing posts being recruited through ASEP,” he said.
He added that “over the past four months, five auxiliary doctors have been approved in paediatrics, nephrology, surgery, cardiology and medical biopathology for the Haematology Department”.
On permanent medical staff positions, Mr Georgiadis noted that candidates had expressed interest in nine of the 10 posts advertised in May. Taking into account recruitment since 2019, the new permanent posts and the auxiliary doctors, the hospital has gained more than 35 doctors, according to the minister.
He acknowledged, however, that shortages remain in some specialties.
“We are not claiming that all the problems have been solved, but, on the other hand, failing to recognise the progress is a great injustice, because significant progress has been made and the people of Ioannina will see it, regardless of their political preferences,” he said.
Free preventive health checks at KAPI centres
Earlier, the health minister met Ioannina Mayor Thomas Begkas, during which he announced that free preventive health checks would begin soon at the municipality’s KAPI centres for older people.
According to Mr Georgiadis, doctors and nurses from the Health Centres will visit the facilities, giving older people access to preventive services without having to travel to health centres.
Among those attending the opening ceremonies were Lilian Venetia Vildiridi, general secretary for Health Services; Christina Maria Kravvari, general secretary for Public Health; Epirus Regional Governor Alexandros Kachrimanis; New Democracy MPs for Ioannina Maria Kefala and Giorgos Amyras; the administrator of the 6th Health Region, Ilias Theodoropoulos; and the administrator of “G. Hatzikosta” Hospital, Evangelos Stamatiadis.
SOURCE: APE