On Monday, April 28, 2025, the doctors of the Pulmonary Clinic at Venizelio Hospital in Crete submitted a mass resignation. According to the Workers’ Union of the Hospital, the reason for the resignation was the “inability to safely support and operate the clinic with only four resident doctors.”

The Workers’ Union asserts that the collapse of the hospital is imminent. “Shifts in the departments are uncovered, making it impossible to provide proper patient care, without taking into account the occupancy rates, severity of the cases, quality indicators, and health protocols,” they report.

“We demand solutions immediately. We will not allow Venizelio to collapse. We will not permit more tragedies in health care like the recent disaster in Tempi. Venizelio Hospital is an integral part of our community. Its smooth operation is a matter of survival for the residents of Crete and all of Southern Greece,” they emphasize.

Detailed statement from the Workers’ Union of Venizelio Hospital in Heraklion:

The Workers’ Union of Venizelio and the three-member medical committee of the hospital publicly denounce the government’s policy of degrading the National Health System, as well as the Ministry of Health and the 7th Health Region. This policy now jeopardizes the functioning and survival of the “Venizelio – Panaio General Hospital,” with tragic consequences for the local community, Crete, and Southern Greece as a whole.

The Ministry of Health and the administration of the 7th Health Region are practically implementing the Prime Minister’s statements that “two public hospitals are not needed within 30 kilometers,” consciously leading to the devaluation of Venizelio, while blatantly ignoring the needs of the people and their constitutional right to equal and universal access to health care.

The collapse is imminent:

Today, April 28, 2025, the doctors of the Pulmonary Clinic submitted their mass resignation due to the inability to safely support and operate the clinic with only four specialized doctors available. The hospital administration and the 7th Health Region were fully aware but took no substantial measures. Instead of strengthening Venizelio, they appointed a temporary doctor at PAGNI, where there are already 10 pulmonologists!

PAGNI and Venizelio have a similar volume of hospitalized patients and needs, and the weakening of one will lead to the collapse of the other.

The Pulmonary Clinic is vital: It is on call every other day, covering the entire 7th Health Region and the islands. It manages critical cases and operates specialized outpatient clinics (Sleep Disorders, Rare Diseases, Tuberculosis Unit).

Preoperative evaluation of patients becomes impossible without it.

Marginal functioning of departments:

• Department of Modern Imaging Techniques (CT and MRI): Operating at a subpar level. On-call duties are covered by doctors from PAGNI. Appointments are limited due to staff shortages.
• Anesthesia Department: Continues to be supported by one doctor from another public health structure, while private doctors are also used for morning surgeries.
• Radiology Department: There is a severe shortage of technologists—3-4 resignations are expected in 2025. There is an inability to simultaneously meet the enormous demand for services (radiology tests in the ER, x-rays in various departments such as NICU and ICU, surgical procedures).
• Surgeries: Three operating rooms are closed, and waiting lists are out of control.
• Intensive Care Unit: Three beds closed due to lack of medical-nursing staff, with 6 vacant positions for specialized doctors. The recruitment of 3 physicians for the ICU does not include the specialty of internist, likely resulting in the positions being left unfilled!
• Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: Out of operation for 1.5 years due to lack of nursing staff.
• Nursing Service: Immediate need for at least 60 additional personnel. Over 20,000 overdue vacation days and compensatory time.
• Cleanliness – Nutrition: Instead of making temporary staff permanent, a contractor is being promoted, despite higher costs and worse quality of services.
• Moves of Doctors: Internists covering Rethymno hospital are forced to travel by KTEL with half reimbursement!
• Pro forma quality checks: At a time when the hospital is collapsing at all levels, Venizelio is being “inspected” by ODIPY, which operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, supposedly aiming to improve the quality of services provided.

What quality?

What safety?

What adequacy?

When shifts in the departments are uncovered, making it impossible to provide proper patient care, without accounting for the occupancy rates, severity of cases, quality indicators, and health protocols.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

WE DEMAND SOLUTIONS IMMEDIATELY.

WE WILL NOT ALLOW VENIZELIO TO COLLAPSE.

WE WILL NOT TOLERATE MORE TEMPI IN HEALTHCARE.

Venizelio Hospital is an integral part of our community.

Its smooth functioning is a matter of survival for the residents of Crete and all of Southern Greece.

Accountability has a name.

We call upon the public, organizations, and every responsible entity to join us in demanding:

• Immediate hiring of staff
• Permanent employment for all temporary workers
• Strengthening, not dismantling, of the National Health System.