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- Tanja, Social Solidarity clinic, Thessaloniki
»I have seen the situation in the health sector and that people are excluded from it, so I had to do something.
Then I came here and asked, what I can do. I enjoy working here, but I would prefer it if something like this would not be necessary.
I would be happy if there is a good health system, but as long as this is not the case, I will help.«
— Tanja (retired, working at the front desk and in the pharmacy of the Social Solidarity clinic)
The austerity measures, prescribed by the TROIKA and implemented by the Greek government, have breaken down the social system in Greece. In addition medical prophylaxis and prevention systems were abolished. Every year during the crisis new cuts were implemented in social spending and also in the areas of school and education.
The Social Solidarity clinic was opened in Thessaloniki in November 2011, currently there are 30 Social clinics in Greece.
Initially the Social clinic was opened for people without insurance, for example immigrants and initially they composed 60-70 percent of the patients.
Meanwhile 70 percent of the patients, who come to the Social clinic, are Greeks without insurance cover.
It is estimated, that currently 2 to 2.5 million Greeks are not covered by insurance.
All employees of the Social clinic are working voluntarily and without pay, a total of 100 doctors from the fields of dentistry, general medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics attend to the patients. On an average day, about 30 patients visit the general surgery and about 50 patients the dentist.
Expensive drug treatments, such as cancer are not possible. The Social clinic can only provide the medicine and products, which it receives through donations.
In addition, concerts and events are organized and the profit are used amongst other things for child vaccination.
The Social clinic receives certain medications also for the purchase price from pharmacies.
In addition to the medical treatment the Social clinic is attempting to give the patient an idea of political awareness.
The patient must understand that they have a right to health and are entitled to demand it. The Social Clinic appeals to public hospitals and the Ministry of Health too, that something has to be done. Hence, a new law was adopted a month ago that enables uninsured people to go back into a hospital if they were previously covered by social insurance.
If the law is applied successfully, the Social clinic can concentrate again on the illegal immigrants.
The employees of the Social clinic are fully aware of the risk of being exploited as a replacement for a functional health system as they are working for free.
On the one hand they don't want to act as a health service instead of the state one and replace the health system, on the other hand they can not just sit around and leave the poor people alone.
For this reason the Social clinic does not accepted donations by the state, which were offered to them, since the state is responsible for the current situation. In the same way, donations from pharmaceutical companies, political parties and the church will not be accepted.
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