The fact that “the donation has different characteristics from those we usually refer to” was emphasized by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, explaining that previous donations concerned infrastructure.
Read: Mitsotakis-Macron communication on the Middle East
Speaking at an event for the donation of the Stelios Haji-Ioannou Charitable Foundation to the National Health System, Mr. Mitsotakis emphasized that “for the first time a private donor turned his attention not to infrastructure but to human resources. And the problem concerns the staffing of medical centers on 47 islands where we had objective difficulties, despite the State providing significant additional incentives for doctors”.
Mitsotakis: “People on the islands are not alone”
According to Mr. Mitsotakis, the donation will allow young doctors to go to the islands. Some of these islands one would not choose, however in some others, such as Spetses, the cost of living is increased. “People on the islands are not alone,” said the prime minister, noting that the struggle is also fought on small islands. “It is important for small islands to have schools even with one student,” he said. The goal is for the state to provide basic education and health infrastructure.
Mr. Mitsotakis mentioned that the donation connects very harmoniously with the National Health System initiative for mobile KOMU units in mainland Greece. “We see cases of people who did not have basic care”. “It required a lot of administrative and regulatory effort to create the framework to accept the donation without pending issues and consequences”.
Mitsotakis’ call to modern-day benefactors
“I address a call to the benefactors of today’s era to stand up to the circumstances and return part of the significant wealth they created with hard work to their homeland,” said Mr. Mitsotakis. “I want to remind that long before the Giving Pledge gained flesh and bones and brand, two important Greeks, Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos, created foundations 50 years ago and we see the results now,” he mentioned, characterizing it as an example to follow and a moral obligation towards the country, to the next generation. “There are many needs, there are many purposes,” he said, stating that the government thinks about the common good, which presupposes the union of forces.
The donation concerns providing 1,500 euros to 80 doctors, located on 47 small islands of Greece for a period of 7 years. The purpose of the donation is the financial support of doctors serving on small islands of the country, with a population below 4,000 residents during the winter period.
