ATHENS – "A year after the start of the pandemic and the situation in the hospitals, especially in Attica, is once again dramatic and this time there can be no excuses for the fact that there was no preparation and no plan," main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance's leader Alexis Tsipras said on Friday, from the Thriasio hospital, which he was visiting.

Tsipras said that he had spoken to doctors who were 'on their own' and he specifically cited the case of the head of the pulmonology clinic at the hospital, aged 66, who was "on his own with 65 patients", something "exceeding his powers", while noting that the same was happening with the nurses, "who are making superhuman efforts."

In this context, he stressed that "at this time there must be a serious and structured emergency plan, which can not underestimate the fact that, in addition to the Covid cases, there are all other diseases."

In particular, he said that the vast majority of hospitals in Athens have been converted into Covid hospitals, "because the health minister and prime minister insist on not wanting to bother the private owners of large private medical units."