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Greece May Waive 25 Euros Hospital Fee

One of the most onerous measures in a $17.45 billion spending cut and tax hike plan that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras narrowly ushered through a divisive Parliament – a 25 euros ($31.77) entry fee to be seen at a hospital – will be waived if Greece meets fiscal targets demanded by international lenders.
Most analysts, however, expect there is almost no chance Greece can rein in its deficit and debt and, if not, the fee will be imposed on Jan. 1, 2014, effectively locking out scores of thousands of the poor from being seen at hospitals because they don’t have the entry fee. Another requirement in the bill is for a 1 euro, or $1.27 surcharge on every prescription.
Health Minister Andreas Lykourentzos told Parliament that reports suggesting the measure would apply on Jan. 1, 2013 were wrong and that it would not go into effect if the government succeeds in righting the economy and fulfilling the conditions set by the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB.) Greece introduced a 3-euro ($3.81) charge for anybody visiting a public hospital in 2010 as part of its commitments under the terms of bailouts from the Troika.
Doctors want to keep state hospitals open and free for the elderly and poor to use every Wednesday in reaction to the measures included in the austerity package. The head of the Federation of Hospital Doctors’ Unions, Dimitris Varnavas, called on other social groups to help in efforts to “keep Greek society alive.”
A year ago, doctor warned of a health catastrophe brought about by the financial crisis. They said then that government cuts meant patients were unable to afford treatment, while hospitals are facing staff cutbacks and shrinking budgets for medicines, forcing more people to shun private doctors and flood hospital emergency wards for treatment.
(Source: Kathimerini)

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