Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis announced that Thessaloniki tops the list for scheduled free afternoon surgeries. The program begins on Thursday, November 28, with 1,800 appointments already booked through December 13. According to the Health Ministry, an estimated 37,000 surgeries will be performed under this initiative by December 31, 2025.

“People shouldn’t rush to hospitals for minor issues like a cough,” Georgiadis advised during an interview with ERT3. “First, contact your family doctor or visit a Health Center if it’s not serious.”

Georgiadis dismissed criticisms of the National Health System (NHS), describing as exaggerated the perception that “anyone who enters a hospital dies.” He pointed out that 85,000 patients are admitted daily. “If everyone died, Greece wouldn’t exist within weeks.”

Regarding the new free afternoon surgery program, Georgiadis highlighted Thessaloniki as the “champion” in scheduled surgeries. “In the first two weeks alone, 1,800 free surgeries are planned, focusing on cataracts, joint replacements, and gallbladder removals. Thessaloniki has the most surgeries, far ahead of other cities. By the end of 2025, at least 34,500 surgeries are required under an agreement with the European Commission. Our goal is to reduce the backlog from 100,000 to 50,000,” he said.

The free surgeries are aimed at patients who have been on waiting lists for over a year. “Each clinic selects the last 20 patients from the list. If some have opted out or undergone surgery elsewhere, the next 20 are contacted,” Georgiadis explained.

“This is a positive social measure for those waiting over a year for non-urgent procedures. Emergency cases are handled immediately. In the NHS, there is no waiting for oncology cases, which are prioritized to be operated on within 30 days,” he stressed.

Thessaloniki faces a shortage of anesthesiologists, Georgiadis noted. “Private sector pay is high, so there’s little incentive to work in public hospitals.” He praised Thessaloniki’s Hippocrates Hospital for its excellent medical and nursing staff.

“More than €30 million will be allocated to overhaul the Hippocrates Hospital, which hosts one of the best melanoma treatment centers in Greece, perhaps even the Balkans. If necessary, I’ll legislate specifically for this hospital,” he added.

The minister criticized the opposition’s stance on the free surgery initiative, stating, “They tried to oppose the government but ended up opposing themselves.”

Georgiadis also touched on the personal doctor system, noting that 5.5 million citizens have registered. “To meet our commitment to the EU for 8 million registrations, we need more doctors. We’re offering bonuses of €45,000 to encourage medical graduates to specialize in Internal Medicine, and they can also participate in the personal doctor program.”

Lastly, the minister mentioned plans to introduce electronic wristbands for patients in emergency departments to reduce wait times. “This is our second major initiative after free afternoon surgeries, aimed at cutting waiting times in emergency wards. Strengthening the NHS remains a top priority for this government,” Georgiadis concluded.