Greece
On 29th of July, public hospital workers, represented by POEDIN and OENGE, staged a 24-hour strike and a protest rally in Athens' Syntagma Square, timed to coincide with a parliamentary vote on a bill affecting mental health institutions, therapy centres, and rehabilitation programs. This strike received support from the public servants’ umbrella union, ADEDY.
The bill faced substantial opposition from health experts and professionals, who feared it would undermine mental health services by transferring control from specialized psychiatric hospitals to regional health departments. The unions, including POEDIN and the Federation of Associations of Hospital Doctors of Greece (OENGE), argued that the bill would lead to decreased service quality due to increased bureaucracy and potential inequalities in care across regions.
Additionally, the bill’s provision to penalize private doctors who do not participate in on-call duties within the public system was criticized. The unions believed this could drive private practitioners away and hinder collaboration between public and private sectors. There were also concerns about a lack of consultation with healthcare professionals during the bill’s development, leading to proposals that might not address practical needs and challenges.
Following the strike, the government faced mounting pressure to reconsider the bill, with ongoing discussions expected to address the unions' concerns. The protest highlighted deep-seated worries about the future of mental health services and the need for effective, accessible care.
