Free surgeries launched to reduce waiting times

Starting this Thursday, the Health Ministry will launch a program to address the surgical backlog of the country's overburdened health system through 1,500 free afternoon surgeries, aimed at reducing wait times. The initiative, announced by Minister Adonis Georgiadis, will take place over the next two weeks, with the first targeting patients who have been waiting the longest - some for over a year. 

The program aims to treat at least 34,000 patients, significantly reducing the 100,000-patient wait list affecting Greece's public hospitals. Georgiadis emphasized that hospitals have already notified patients. The government hopes to bring average wait times down to six months, in line with EU standards. 

To reach this goal, private healthcare providers may also participate, with €54 million in funding from Greece's Recovery Fund. However, no paid surgeries will be...