Cancer patients' lives put at risk in Greece
12.1.2016
Question for written answer E-000171-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Lampros Fountoulis (NI)
According to a report on Greek website[1], the Athens Medical Association (ISA) has denounced the fact that on Monday 11.1.2016 dozens of cancer patients failed to receive their treatment in a public hospital, as the shelves of its pharmacies were empty. It says that the lack of medicines in public hospitals has created an unprecedented situation. At the hospital in question, there was a severe shortage of chemotherapeutic drugs and dozens of cancer patients failed to receive their treatment. Other hospitals are facing similar problems, for instance the ‘Andreas Syngros’ Hospital which has run out of four ARVs. Although the Health Ministry had given assurances that funds have been secured and transferred to hospitals, the ISA claims that this is inaccurate as hospitals have run out of money and the situation in public hospitals is now dramatic.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
- 1.Is it aware of this state of affairs in Greek hospitals, which is unprecedented even by the standards of the economic crisis?
- 2.Given the situation in Greece, what measures does it intend to take to boost the country's efforts to adopt measures or to improve existing measures to allow public hospitals in Greece to cater properly for our gravely ill fellow-citizens?
- [1] http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5325357/xwris-farmaka-oi-karkinopatheis-sta-dhmosia-nosokomeia-kataggelei-o-isa