The Athens Medical Society called on the government to re-operate the Cardiac Surgery Unit at Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital which was closed down by the previous PASOK government. In a letter to Health Minister Andreas Lykourentzos the doctors reveal that since the clinic stopped operating many children have died because the only other hospital that can perform such operations is the Onassis Hospital -which is privately owned- and which has a very long waiting list.
Here is the letter:
"The specific unit stopped operating a little over 8 months ago, and today Greek citizens are being deprived of vital services. We have received many letters from parents of children who are suffering from congenital heart diseases, and they continue to note how dangerous this is for the health of their children.Editor's Note - What a tragedy.... Let us hope that the new administration at the Ministry of Health will do the honorable -and logical- thing.
So much so, that the parents of these children have submitted formal complaints (lawsuits) to an Athens Misdemeanours Prosecutor. The termination of this (cardiac) unit contributed to the deaths of many children who suffered from these diseases. The reason (we insist that you re-open the Cardiac Surgery Department at Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital) is because (many children) lack insurance coverage and (their parents are) economically weak to cover the costs of health care and hospitalization at a private hospital (such as Onassis).(Originally posted in Greek by makeleio)
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