Apostolos Tomaras
A temporary truce has been reached in the healthcare sector following the 48-hour doctors' strike. Faced with the not-so-unlikely prospect of a prolonged crisis, the meeting between doctors and the Minister of Health appears to have provided a new opportunity, first to resolve the issue of financial incentives for doctors and second, to address the distortions plaguing former public hospitals with the introduction of the GESY (General Healthcare System). However, the lack of preventative measures to avoid labor tensions in such a sensitive sector as healthcare, and the reactive intervention once the situation escalated, is questionable.
As the situation unfolded, it became clear that the Ministry of Health had stepped in to tackle the urgent issues facing medical staff at the OKYPY hospitals. This development appears to have satisfied the medical staff and offers hope for long-term stabilization. A reflection of the changed mood after two days of tension was the public statement made by the doctors following their Thursday morning meeting with the Health Minister. Michalis Damianou also appeared relieved, announcing that warnings of continued harsh reactions were now a thing of the past. “This dialogue is starting once again, and it is essential to find a solution so that this issue—these strikes—can come to an end, allowing the Organization to move forward,” he said.
December Milestone
The positive atmosphere will be tested again in the first ten days of December when all sides will address the core issue of the latest strike measures: the unpaid 2023 financial incentives for eligible doctors of the OKYPY. The meeting is scheduled for December 5. The outcome of this initial meeting will determine whether a second one is needed, potentially expanding the discussion to include the participation of OKYPY in the next phase.
As shown by current actions, the Minister of Health is acting as a mediator to break the deadlock between doctors and the management of former public hospitals. Damianou has stated that he will update OKYPY about his meeting with the doctors and has left open the possibility of a joint meeting between both parties, should there be a need for one.
The Challenges
As expected, the issue of financial incentives is proving to be complex, with the Health Minister making efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides. This is especially the case following a letter from the Auditor General of the Republic, which reinforces OKYPY's position on the amount that can be allocated. The Audit Office believes that the €2.5 million financial incentive for 2023, as highlighted by an independent study, aligns with the financial realities and can be granted as a direct incentive. The Auditor General's stance is backed by the fact that the Basic Revenue Target was exceeded, surpassing the €220 million threshold.
However, Kyriacos Papaconstantinou, citing financial data showing the Increased Revenue Target €85 million above the Basic Target, argues that a direct incentive for the difference between the Basic and Increased Targets is not justified. Doctors disagree with this view, suggesting that OKYPY is only presenting part of the data from the independent study to support its position.
The Roadmap
The dialogue now underway will not be limited to the immediate issue of financial incentives. If an agreement on the incentives is reached, both sides have agreed to start a broader discussion. The goal is to create a roadmap leading to a strong agreement by February that satisfies both parties and prevents future disruptions, such as the strike action taken this week. For now, both sides are keeping the details of the negotiations confidential, likely to avoid external factors influencing the ongoing discussions.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
