ATHENS — Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance spokesperson Nasos Iliopoulos, in an interview with Ionian TV on Tuesday, accused the government of allowing the national health system to reach the verge of collapse and of using the pandemic as an opportunity for "policies that plunder society".

"In the midst of a pandemic, 6,000 fewer employees work in public hospitals than last year," he said, adding that "the government has already cancelled 80 pct of planned surgeries, effectively shunting off those patients not suffering from coronavirus."

Iliopoulos accused the government of avoiding the permanent recruitment of healthcare personnel, "because it remains stuck in its pre-election ideologies, as it wants to proceed with privatisations in the health sector."

He also underlined, however, that the protection of life is not confined to the health aspect but also relates to the financial aspect, stressing that "today entire sectors are forced to close, without the government ensuring their financial survival."