Central Corfu Deputy Mayor for Health resigns citing problems in health service

FROM: Spyridon Galanis, General/Family Physician

TO:
The Mayor, Mr. Stefanos Poulimenos
The President of the Municipal Council, Mr. Xenophon Alamanos
The Members of the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands

SUBJECT: Resignation from the Position of Deputy Mayor and Municipal Councillor

Dear Mr. Mayor,
Dear Mr. President of the Municipal Council,
Dear Members of the Municipal Council,

Through this letter, I wish to formally submit my resignation from the position of Deputy Mayor for Health and Head of the Primary Sector, as well as from my seat as Municipal Councillor of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands. I have served these roles with dedication and responsibility, despite at the same time maintaining my private medical practice for my livelihood.

This decision was not made lightly, but after careful thought and consideration of the circumstances that have developed both personally and professionally. My participation in local government has been, for me, an experience of genuine contribution, motivated by the desire to advance progress and improve the daily lives of our fellow citizens.

My tenure was marked by challenges and high demands in two particularly critical areas: Health—where I had from the outset expressed my wish to serve, and for which the Mayor honoured me with the appointment as Deputy Mayor of Health—and, from April 2024, the Primary Sector and the management of stray animals.

From the very beginning, I was required to operate under significant constraints, since each department had only one permanent, non-specialised employee, a fact which greatly hindered both daily operations and the implementation of programmes and initiatives.

In the Primary Sector Department, in November–December 2024, I even had to personally assume administrative duties, as no permanent staff member was available, responding directly to citizens’ calls for help with their problems.

This situation, combined with limited responsiveness from the municipal services regarding timely information and adherence to the deadlines I repeatedly set, as well as bureaucratic obstacles, often made the implementation of initiatives especially difficult, requiring my constant personal intervention.

On many occasions, the resolution of pending matters, the handling of urgent cases, and the advancement of planned initiatives relied almost exclusively on my personal effort and sense of responsibility.

Despite these difficulties, we succeeded in producing tangible results that contributed to public health prevention, improved stray animal management, and fostered a framework of cooperation with civil society—an account of which I have submitted to you in recent days. Nevertheless, the accumulated strain and the lack of sufficient support led me to conclude that it is no longer possible for me to continue serving in the way, or with the effectiveness, that I would wish.

All of this created an environment that hindered meaningful work and made the exercise of my duties excessively time-consuming and, at times, ineffective.

Although the Mayor demonstrated good intentions in seeking solutions and guiding interventions in the right direction, the daily reality shows that municipal services continue to function at a pace which not only prevents rapid and effective problem-solving, but also demands far more time than a Deputy Mayor with professional obligations can realistically dedicate. While support was provided at the level of intentions and directions, in practice there was not always the necessary follow-through, regular monitoring, or timely communication on matters within my area of responsibility. As a result, I often lacked the necessary information or institutional support, which restricted my ability to intervene effectively. Regardless of intentions, this gradually created a sense of marginalisation, which limited the full use of my willingness to contribute.

I step down not because I am tired of serving, but because I am tired of fighting daily against a system that refuses to change. Despite the difficulties, I always acted with the broader public interest in mind and sought to contribute to the smooth operation of services and the support of citizens.

Within this challenging framework, I feel the need to acknowledge and sincerely thank all the health institutions, and especially the volunteer doctors and dentists, who selflessly supported the Municipality’s preventive health programmes and proved invaluable allies in my role as Deputy Mayor of Health. Our collaboration was a shining example of how things can work properly when there is understanding, professionalism, and genuine willingness to serve.

I also extend my thanks to the Animal Welfare Associations and volunteers who supported my initiatives in the Primary Sector and the protection of stray animals. Without their daily and selfless contribution, there could have been no meaningful framework for the protection of stray animals.

Special thanks are also due to those municipal employees who were true partners in addressing difficult administrative issues, contributing decisively to the smooth functioning of key sectors. I am equally grateful to the members of the Municipal Council who supported my proposals, as well as to the Deputy Mayors whose collaboration enabled the implementation of joint initiatives and interventions.

Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my fellow citizens, who honoured me with their vote and their trust, while at the same time asking for their understanding for my departure. Thanks to their support, I was able to contribute the work I now leave behind, and I hope that my efforts served the common good. If some of my decisions caused disappointment, I would like them to know that I always acted within the framework of collective decisions—despite any personal disagreements—guided by the broader interest of our community.

With a sense of responsibility and respect for the institution, I hereby submit my resignation, thanking you for the trust you have placed in me and wishing you every success in continuing the work of the Municipal Authority.

Respectfully,
Spyridon Galanis
General/Family Physician
MSc, Management of Aging-Related Diseases

ELENI KORONAKI