Corfu Health Centres still have not been renovated
Health Centres
29 Sep 2022
/ 20:20
CORFU. 12 Health Centres in the Ionian Islands are planned to be renovated through the Recovery Fund. The studies for the Corfu Health Centres are ready.
Corfu Health Centres remain in the same bad condition and with the same problems. Building issues, upgrading of medical equipment and staff shortages describe the current situation in primary health care.
The repair of the buildings of the Ionian Islands Regional Health Centres is finally being attempted through the programme announced by the government for the radical renovation of 156 Health Centres across the country with €250 million from the Recovery Fund, in order to reform them technologically and in terms of infrastructure.
As far as Corfu is concerned, the studies and tender documents for the five Health Centres (Corfu Town, Lefkimmi, Agios Markos, Agios Athanasios, Paxos) were completed and delivered to the Region two years after the signing of the contract and are expected to be sent to the Ministry of Health, in order to be approved and included in the funding programme.
According to the initial planning, the renovation of the 12 Health Centre buildings (building infrastructure and equipment) was going to be funded by the Public Investment Programme and the ESPA Programme with €12,248,000.
For Corfu, the total cost, without the logistical and hotel equipment, is €6.5 million.
Poor condition
However, until they are renovated (replacement of electromechanical equipment, new medical equipment, energy upgrading, etc.), the condition of these structures is extremely poor - doors and windows that need to be replaced, rooms that flood with a single rainfall and walls that have absorbed water and collapsed.
At the Ag. Markos Health Centre, for example, every time it rains, the basement, where the boiler and generator are, floods.
In the Lefkimmi Health Centre there are structural problems, while the Corfu Town Health Centre is in an awful condition with problems that are very obvious. Although some small interventions have been made in some windows, the problems remain.
People from Paxos have to go elsewhere
Although the doors and windows in the Paxos Health Centre had been replaced three years ago, further repairs are needed. In particular, there is a need for staffing and medical equipment, as people are forced to travel to Corfu or Ioannina for a mammogram and bone density measurement.
"There is a need to advertise the position of doctor for the new regional clinic opened in Lakka, which is staffed by auxiliary staff, three nurses and a paramedic. We are also requesting that the microbiology laboratory be opened, as there is a microbiologist on the island. At the moment, people who need to do blood tests have to go to a private laboratory," the Paxos Health Centre Director Michalis Kantas told Enimerosi.
According to him, the operation of the Health Centre has a paediatrician and three general doctors, but one of them is currently on maternity leave. In August, due to the increased traffic on the island, four doctors had come from the Epirus Health Centre to help.
Staffing is the issue
Staffing remains an issue for the other Corfu Health Centres. In Lefkimmi, at least three more permanent doctors are needed. In fact, the South Corfu Municipality is providing, as an incentive, a €200 housing subsidy for those who decide to work there. "There are two doctors for each of the necessary shifts, but the Health Centre does not have enough permanent staff," said the general doctor Giorgos Sayias.
Although the Ag. Markos Health Centre has the required staff, the shifts are done with difficulty, as the doctors also have to go to the Corfu Hospital and the Corfu Town Health Centre.
Personal doctor
However, the institution of the personal doctor will play a key role in the whole project that the government is promoting for the radical reform of the Health Care Centres, in order for hospitals to be relieved of cases that could be treated in smaller health units like these ones. However, in Corfu Region the interest shown is extremely low.
According to the Corfu General Family Doctors Union President Phivos Kakavitsas, 33 public doctors and only three private doctors have expressed interest in joining the institution of the personal doctor, which can only cover 72,000 adults out of a total of 100,000.
The problem becomes more intense within the town, where there are only seven public doctors and one private doctor, which can provide services to only 16,000 out of a total of 50,000 adults.
The repair of the buildings of the Ionian Islands Regional Health Centres is finally being attempted through the programme announced by the government for the radical renovation of 156 Health Centres across the country with €250 million from the Recovery Fund, in order to reform them technologically and in terms of infrastructure.
As far as Corfu is concerned, the studies and tender documents for the five Health Centres (Corfu Town, Lefkimmi, Agios Markos, Agios Athanasios, Paxos) were completed and delivered to the Region two years after the signing of the contract and are expected to be sent to the Ministry of Health, in order to be approved and included in the funding programme.
According to the initial planning, the renovation of the 12 Health Centre buildings (building infrastructure and equipment) was going to be funded by the Public Investment Programme and the ESPA Programme with €12,248,000.
For Corfu, the total cost, without the logistical and hotel equipment, is €6.5 million.
Poor condition
However, until they are renovated (replacement of electromechanical equipment, new medical equipment, energy upgrading, etc.), the condition of these structures is extremely poor - doors and windows that need to be replaced, rooms that flood with a single rainfall and walls that have absorbed water and collapsed.
At the Ag. Markos Health Centre, for example, every time it rains, the basement, where the boiler and generator are, floods.
In the Lefkimmi Health Centre there are structural problems, while the Corfu Town Health Centre is in an awful condition with problems that are very obvious. Although some small interventions have been made in some windows, the problems remain.
People from Paxos have to go elsewhere
Although the doors and windows in the Paxos Health Centre had been replaced three years ago, further repairs are needed. In particular, there is a need for staffing and medical equipment, as people are forced to travel to Corfu or Ioannina for a mammogram and bone density measurement.
"There is a need to advertise the position of doctor for the new regional clinic opened in Lakka, which is staffed by auxiliary staff, three nurses and a paramedic. We are also requesting that the microbiology laboratory be opened, as there is a microbiologist on the island. At the moment, people who need to do blood tests have to go to a private laboratory," the Paxos Health Centre Director Michalis Kantas told Enimerosi.
According to him, the operation of the Health Centre has a paediatrician and three general doctors, but one of them is currently on maternity leave. In August, due to the increased traffic on the island, four doctors had come from the Epirus Health Centre to help.
Staffing is the issue
Staffing remains an issue for the other Corfu Health Centres. In Lefkimmi, at least three more permanent doctors are needed. In fact, the South Corfu Municipality is providing, as an incentive, a €200 housing subsidy for those who decide to work there. "There are two doctors for each of the necessary shifts, but the Health Centre does not have enough permanent staff," said the general doctor Giorgos Sayias.
Although the Ag. Markos Health Centre has the required staff, the shifts are done with difficulty, as the doctors also have to go to the Corfu Hospital and the Corfu Town Health Centre.
Personal doctor
However, the institution of the personal doctor will play a key role in the whole project that the government is promoting for the radical reform of the Health Care Centres, in order for hospitals to be relieved of cases that could be treated in smaller health units like these ones. However, in Corfu Region the interest shown is extremely low.
According to the Corfu General Family Doctors Union President Phivos Kakavitsas, 33 public doctors and only three private doctors have expressed interest in joining the institution of the personal doctor, which can only cover 72,000 adults out of a total of 100,000.
The problem becomes more intense within the town, where there are only seven public doctors and one private doctor, which can provide services to only 16,000 out of a total of 50,000 adults.
