Incidents between nurses and police occurred Thursday morning at Nikaia Hospital during the visit of Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.

People from his personal security team removed him from the crowd, but despite the tension, the minister entered the hospital through another entrance.

Speaking about what happened at Nikaia Hospital, Mr. Georgiadis initially told OPEN TV that:
“They can shout as much as they want. The problem is that they had decided to prevent my entry into the hospital by force. My physical integrity was seriously at risk from the things they were throwing – eggs, water, stones – while there were railings behind me, and I could have been trapped in them.”

“Their goal was for me to leave, but I cannot accept that communist and fascist violence, which I consider the same, can prevail over democracy. I went as an elected MP and Minister of Health; heaven forbid if the institutions of democracy bow to the communists.”

“When they use violence, it’s a problem. Protest is a constitutionally guaranteed right, not violence,” the Minister of Health added, revealing that “the police arrested a doctor who attacked us. I decided not to press charges and to have him released. I believe a Minister of Health cannot be taking doctors to court.”

According to the Minister of Health, “some members of the workers’ union, KKE and ANTARSYA, as well as from the labor center and the Nikaia municipal council, gathered.”

Describing the event as “truly unacceptable,” the minister explained that he had gone to the hospital to inaugurate the new Emergency Department (ED):
“We’re talking about the biggest project in this hospital. This hospital has an increased budget, 65 more doctors, 135 more nurses, and 133 more other staff. Through the Recovery Fund and the NSRF, we are doing seven projects worth €30 million, the first projects in 30 years. This is one of the hospitals we have taken the most care of compared to all others, and I am proud of that.”

Earlier, protesters holding banners reading “Tempi-Pylos-Palestine” welcomed Adonis Georgiadis outside Aretaieio Hospital when the Minister of Health arrived for the cutting of the New Year’s cake.

During the dialogue that followed, one of the gathered people told Mr. Georgiadis, “We are with Hamas,” to which the minister noted in a post on X: “Of course, their demands and protests have nothing to do with the National Health System (ESY).”

The dialogue began with Adonis Georgiadis asking: “What’s happening, guys? Hello. What’s all this noise here?” with the protesters responding, “You are unwanted once again.”

“Does this have anything to do with ESY or Aretaieio?” asked the minister, with the crowd replying, “You are responsible for all the crimes.”

“Did we wage war in Palestine? Do you know about Hamas’s invasion on October 7, 2023?” the minister asked again, and a young woman replied, “Yes, we are with Hamas.”

“If you are with Hamas, we are with Israel. Can we?” continued Mr. Georgiadis, receiving the answer, “No, you can’t.” “You can be with Hamas, but we cannot be with Israel,” concluded the dialogue between the Minister of Health and the protesters outside Aretaieio Hospital.