Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis took to social media to address the events that unfolded during the evacuation of the Attica Psychiatric Hospital in Dafni, following the major wildfire that broke out in Chaidari. In his post, the minister referred to the disciplinary proceedings launched against certain hospital workers, stating that he was subjected to verbal abuse and insults during the evacuation operation. He clarified that the disciplinary process relates specifically to the incidents that, according to him, occurred during the operation.
The minister’s latest statement was prompted by comments from POEDIN president Michalis Giannakos, who, while characterizing the conduct of local union representatives during the crisis as “irresponsible,” simultaneously called for the disciplinary proceedings to be dropped.
Georgiadis: “We cannot allow the chain of command in the national health system to collapse”
Ο Πρόεδρος της ΠΟΕΔΗΝ κ. Γιαννάκος ήταν ο ίδιος παρών στα ντροπιαστικά γεγονότα του λεκτικού μου προπηλακισμού εν ώρα υπηρεσίας και εκκένωσης του ΨΝΑ στο Δαφνί και προχώρησε σήμερα στην παρακάτω δήλωση:
«ΤΗΝ ΩΡΑ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΤΑΣΣΕΤΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΠΥΡΟΣΒΕΣΤΙΚΗ Η ΕΚΚΕΝΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΨΝΑ ΔΕΝ ΧΩΡΑΝΕ…
— Άδωνις Γεωργιάδης (@AdonisGeorgiadi) August 3, 2026
“Unfortunately, the disciplinary investigation has been ordered and cannot be stopped, as I am required, in my capacity as political supervisor, to uphold the law. Not all moments are the same, and we cannot allow the chain of command within the national health system to collapse,” Adonis Georgiadis wrote in his post on X.
The Health Minister’s full post reads: “POEDIN President Mr. Giannakos was himself present during the shameful incident in which I was verbally abused while on duty during the evacuation of the Attica Psychiatric Hospital in Dafni, and today he issued the following statement: ‘WHEN THE FIRE SERVICE ORDERS THE EVACUATION OF THE ATTICA PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR THOUGHTLESS UNION TACTICS AND DISPUTES — YET AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE HEALTH MINISTER’S DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS TO BE DROPPED. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DOZENS OF ATTICA PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL STAFF AND EKAV PARAMEDICS FOR THE SAFE TRANSFER OF VULNERABLE PATIENTS.
On Friday afternoon, I was informed by staff on the evening shift at the Attica Psychiatric Hospital that the fire service had ordered the evacuation of patients due to the major wildfire in Chaidari. I considered it my duty to visit the hospital, to help, and to encourage my colleagues during this difficult effort. That is how I understand my institutional role — not through untimely, sterile union confrontations.
Upon arriving at the hospital, I found the Health Minister, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, the director of the 2nd Health Region, the hospital’s director, and a large number of police and fire service personnel on site. There were numerous fire trucks in the surrounding area. Everyone was ready to act should the fire threaten the psychiatric hospital. The Fire Service commander initially issued an order to evacuate the hospital.
Ambulances and buses began arriving to assist with the evacuation. The local union was nowhere to be seen. They did not approach, did not seek information from the political leadership of the Ministry of Health, or from the fire service about the evacuation plan. Yes, most hospitals lack fire detection and fire protection systems — which is precisely why the fire service refuses to issue fire safety certificates — but that is a matter for criticism at another time. In this particular case, Dafni was filled with fire trucks and forest firefighters ready to respond if the fire posed a threat. We needed to join forces.
Dafni was on call that Friday, and the Ministry of Health decided to transfer the on-call duty to Dromokaiteio, where I serve as elected president of the union. Immediately, all of us — the members of the Dromokaiteio union board — stepped up and assumed the on-call duty without citing the lack of doctors, paramedics, available beds, and so on, all of which demonstrably exist as ongoing problems at Dromokaiteio and which we continuously raise.
We believe that in an emergency where patients’ lives are at risk, everyone must set aside criticism and pull together. That is what we did at Dromokaiteio. Patients’ lives come first. Fortunately, the fire subsided and civil protection authorities and the fire service chief later issued a new directive stating that the risk of the fire spreading to the hospital had receded. It was ultimately decided that only patients with respiratory problems would be transferred to other hospitals.
At the moment the political leadership of the Ministry of Health arrived at the entrance of the ward where the patient transfer operation was to take place, approximately 20 individuals — hospital workers and non-workers alike — verbally accosted the Health Minister, demanding that he leave the hospital. The hospital was at risk of burning down with 350 inpatients inside, and yet these individuals were demanding that the Health Minister — who was there to coordinate the evacuation in his capacity as political supervisor — leave the premises. It is simply inconceivable that anyone could agree to such a thing. In the meantime, a number of coaches had already arrived to transport patients. The situation was that critical.
I have never encountered such irresponsibility and union naivety. Instead of joining forces and helping the staff who were running flat out to transfer patients, they were hurling abuse at the minister and demanding he leave as if he were unwelcome. The Health Minister approached them and pointed out that he is the political supervisor and asked to be allowed to do his job and coordinate the hospital evacuation.
Defiantly, these individuals — union members and non-members, hospital workers and non-workers alike — remained on the sidelines and did not approach the area where the transfer of the 14 patients with respiratory problems was taking place. Coordination and record-keeping were handled by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, supported by dozens of Dafni staff, whom I commend. I also commend the EKAV paramedics for their outstanding operational capabilities. The POEDIN president considered it his institutional duty to be there at the front, not to stand by as a spectator around the corner like the local union. We are not all the same. I was alongside the workers and paramedics who were running themselves ragged to ensure the safe transfer of patients. We helped wherever and however we could. We were in the right place, fully aware of the gravity of the moment.
We waited for the local union to fall silent and acknowledge their mistake. In vain. They are now trying to come out on top. Of course, we do not agree with any of the Health Minister’s disciplinary measures, which must be withdrawn immediately. However, they are exploiting moments of anguish and crisis for union gain. When the country is on fire, when combat pilots and forest firefighters are losing their lives, when properties are being destroyed, the right thing to do is to stay silent. We are not all the same. — Giannakos”
I can only imagine what he must have had to hear from all those people there….
Unfortunately, the disciplinary investigation has been ordered and cannot be stopped, as I am required, in my capacity as political supervisor, to uphold the law. Not all moments are the same, and we cannot allow the chain of command within the national health system to collapse. That would be catastrophic for the system itself, but ultimately also for its workers and, above all, for patients.”
