Greek health service faces catastrophic cuts
Massive cuts to the public health care service were passed by the Greek parliament on March 1. - The reduction of €1 billion euros in health spending was the final domestic legislation required under the “prior action” agreement with the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank to allow Greece access to the second 130 billion euro loan. Measures include the extension of pharmacy opening hours, cuts in drugs spending by state pension funds and legislation mandating generic drug prescriptions. The cuts have led to widespread protests from medical workers. The day before the vote, workers at state hospitals held a 24-hour strike. A common sight throughout Athens prior to the vote was a poster outside pharmacies in which Health Minister Andreas Loverdos was portrayed as a gravedigger.
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