Recruitment for the re-opening of the Lamia General Hospital operating theatre

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Written question – Recruitment for the re-opening of the Lamia General Hospital operating theatre – E-008364/2016

4 November 2016
E-008364-16
Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 130
Notis Marias (ECR)

Written question – Recruitment for the re-opening of the Lamia General Hospital operating theatre – E-008364/2016

Article 168 TFEU states that Union action, which shall complement national policies, shall be directed towards improving public health, preventing physical and mental illness and diseases, and obviating sources of danger to physical and mental health.

In Greece, however, health expenditure has been drastically cut in line with Troika memorandum requirements, thereby undermining the provision of essential health services.

Lamia General Hospital, for example, is the largest in mainland Greece with patients being admitted for surgery on a daily basis from the Evritania, Fokida, Fthiotida and Evia regional hospitals and 3 500 operations being performed annually in its intensive care units.

However, although it has vacancies for eight specialist anaesthesiologists, only two of these posts have been filled, one by a doctor seconded from another hospital and one by a junior consultant. This is making it impossible to carry out surgery and the hospital director has been forced to announce the closure of the operating theatre until further notice.

In view of this:

What action will the Commission take, together with the Greek authorities, to ensure that the vacancies at the Lamia General Hospital can be filled and the operating theatre reopened immediately?

 

Answer to a written question – Recruitment for the re-opening of the Lamia General Hospital operating theatre – E-008364/2016

20 December 2016
E-008364/2016
Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission
According to Article 168, paragraph 7 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union(1), Union action shall respect the responsibilities of the Member States for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care. Hence, it is foremost for Member States to decide on how to ensure access to healthcare for their populations.

The Commission supports the intention of the Greek Ministry of Health to enhance the cost-efficiency and effectiveness of the Greek National Health System as well as the quality and accessibility of public healthcare in order to fully meet the health needs of the population but also to ensure sustainability.

The Commission has taken note of the specific situation with the Lamia General Hospital and assures the Honourable Member that like it did in the past, it will continue to bring up such matters with the Greek authorities during the review missions. However as explained in its replies to written questions E-000029/2016, E-000248/2016, E-000171/2016, E-001016/2016, E-003119/2016, and E-004690/2016(2), the Commission has limited competence to deal with specific situations with regard to medical care in the Member States.

(1) http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:12008E168:EN:HTML
(2) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/parliamentary-questions.html

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