Addressing Verbal Attacks on Gesy Service Providers
In a recent House health committee meeting, chairman Efthimios Diplaros raised concerns over the increasing number of verbal attacks on doctors and other service providers within the Gesy healthcare system. According to Diplaros, the root cause of these confrontations is a widespread lack of awareness among patients about their rights and obligations.
Diplaros highlighted that, in many instances, service providers are unjustly blamed for denying patient requests, which are often influenced by misinformation. The blame is frequently directed at the health insurance organisation (HIO) or the Gesy system itself, leading to unnecessary conflicts.
Both patient associations and medical professionals have documented instances of abuse, including verbal threats. Diplaros emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that some patients are pressuring doctors to perform specific tests, a practice that is unsustainable and unacceptable.
The chairman pointed out that this misinformation has led to longer waiting lists and unrealistic demands from patients, such as scheduling appointments with multiple doctors in a short time frame. He stressed that these issues represent significant abuses within the system, which must be addressed as Gesy reaches its five-year mark.
To mitigate these problems, Diplaros proposed the introduction of a “patient advocate,” a role that would help resolve many of these conflicts. He mentioned that Health Minister Michael Damianos has informed him of a bill to create this position, which is currently in an advanced stage of development.
Additionally, specialist groups are already in place to review patient complaints in contracted hospitals. Moreover, state health services (Okypy) are on the verge of establishing “patient service offices” across all public hospitals. Diplaros urged Okypy to provide clear timelines for the implementation of these offices.
The committee has taken proactive steps by allocating over €1 million to the HIO for an information campaign aimed at educating patients about their rights. Diplaros concluded with a call to action, emphasizing the urgent need for patients to be properly informed and to adopt a more appropriate healthcare culture.
