ATHENS – Applause alone does not solve the problems of the thousands of nurses, main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday, on the occasion of the International Nurses Day, and stressed that it is the government's obligation "to go from pleasant words to deeds."

In a post on social media, Tsipras commented that "today, on International Nurses Day, many will rush to thank the nursing staff who, with self-sacrifice for two months, have been fighting to save thousands of lives."

However, he stressed that a thank you "that remains in words only is very little and very hypocritical. It is the duty of all of us, and above all of the government, to move from pleasant words to deeds."

Tsipras pointed out that "the contribution of nurses cannot and should not be forgotten, because it is ongoing. It exists now, in the midst of a pandemic, as it did in the past, when ND ministers discredited their work and their contribution to the public health system."

He added that "SYRIZA, as a government, has, among other things, hired nursing staff on a permanent basis, increased funding and put an end to cuts and delays. It increased the hourly wage by 20 pct and secured the dangerous and unhealthy work benefit."