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The Ministry of Health is implementing an emergency plan in northern Greece, so that hospitals can withstand the unbearable pressure of the pandemic. Yesterday morning, of the 118 beds in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit in Thessaloniki, 8 were empty, while there was a moment during the day when their number was reduced to 3.
In Attica, respectively, of the 164 COVID-19 Intensive Care Units, 48 were vacant yesterday morning. The Ministry of Health is creating 50 new beds in Thessaloniki for tomorrow, from the conversion of neurosurgical, cardiac and vascular surgery units into COVID -19 intensive care units, with the equipment that the Ministry of Health has as a strategic stock. A ward of the 424 Military General Hospital in the co-capital will be converted into a COVID-19 patient care unit.
At the same time, an air transport plan is being implemented for patients in need of intensive care from Thessaloniki to hospitals in Attica and other parts of the country. The flights will be carried out with an Air Force C130 aircraft, equipped with the special capsule. At the same time, a plan has been drawn up to transfer patients to intensive care units in other prefectures, mainly in Thessaly, and to order that private clinics convert them into exclusive treatment units for COVID-19 patients. The Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, is expected to make an extraordinary visit to Thessaloniki, in order to organize the intensification of controls for compliance with the measures, something that cannot be ruled out in Attica in the coming days.
As stated by the Minister of Health, Vassilis Kikilias, “the great moment of the great battle in Thessaloniki has arrived. “Unfortunately, we are not paying attention,” adding that the percentage of positive tests at the moment in Thessaloniki is 32%, which means a great spread of the disease. Yesterday afternoon, 263 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized in the territory’s intensive care units, compared to 169, which was the corresponding number a week earlier, while 41 additional deaths occurred. The number of new diagnoses yesterday was 2,384, of which 588 were registered in Attica, 652 in Thessaloniki and 164 in Larissa.
However, the minister assured yesterday that the NSS can endure, while thanking the hospital staff – “these shocking people”, as he said – for the battle they are waging. He also pointed his arrows at the official opposition leader, Al. Tsipras, noting that “against the national effort, unfortunately there is Mr. Tsipras and those of his comrades who follow the populist opposition with lies and fake news.” I want you to know that you are not attacking us. They beat up the citizens. “They did it at the beginning of the pandemic, they are repeating it mercilessly even now.”
Anastasia Kotanidou, professor of Pneumology-Intensive Care at EKPA and head of the Committee for the Design of New ICUs of the National Health Service, focused on the role of ICUs in this crisis, noting that since the beginning of the pandemic more than 900 patients and at least 330 have come out in excellent condition. Ms Kotanidou emphasized that the death rate in the ICU of COVID-19 patients in Greece is 35% -37%, which is very low compared to what is recorded in units abroad.
Invitation to individuals
Health Minister V. Kikilias invited private doctors to contribute to fighting the pandemic. In a teleconference organized by the Panhellenic Medical College with the participation of the presidents of the country’s medical colleges, the minister proposed the conclusion of a private physician contract with the NSS with a 6-month blockade and with the possibility of an extension for another six , with a monthly remuneration of 2,000 euros net. and paid on-call time. Private physicians may maintain their private practice and their professional relationship with private clinics. It is recalled that the relevant possibility of cooperation with private doctors, in the context of emergency measures to deal with the pandemic, provided for an amendment tabled by the Minister of Health in Parliament last week. The reaction of the Greek Federation of Hospital Physicians Associations was forceful, highlighting that “instead of blocking hospitals, the government had to include private doctors in a compulsory and non-voluntary way, in a single state plan to deal with the pandemic “.
