Lawmakers from opposition party SYRIZA-PS have submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of Health after both CT scanners at Attikon University General Hospital broke down. The initiative, led by parliamentary group president Rena Dourou, highlighted worker complaints that the major Western Athens facility has been left without functional computed tomography equipment.
According to a formal complaint by the Attikon Hospital Workers Union Anagennisi, both of the facility's CT scanners went out of service at the same time. The union stated that the technical support company responsible for maintaining the machinery has not informed hospital authorities when the breakdowns will be repaired.
In their question, the SYRIZA-PS parliamentarians emphasised that CT scanning is a critical diagnostic test required for the immediate evaluation of urgent and potentially life-threatening medical conditions. They warned that the dual outage creates critical questions regarding patient safety and the hospital's overall emergency readiness.
Emergency Care Concerns
Attikon University General Hospital, located in Haidari in Western Athens, is one of the largest public tertiary hospitals in Greece. As a major teaching facility operating under the Greek national healthcare framework, it provides specialised medical care and serves as a primary general duty emergency hospital for the densely populated western suburbs of Athens and adjacent prefectures.
Computed tomography scanners use computer-processed combinations of multiple X-ray measurements to produce detailed tomographic images of specific areas of a scanned object. In emergency hospital settings, immediate access to CT scans is essential for diagnosing acute conditions such as intracranial hemorrhages, vascular blockages, severe physical trauma, and acute abdominal pathology.
Demands for Ministry Accountability
The opposition lawmakers asked the Minister of Health to specify what immediate measures the ministry and hospital management intend to implement to guarantee that emergency patients requiring CT scans receive uninterrupted care while the equipment remains non-operational.
The SYRIZA-PS group also requested detailed information on the expected response and repair timelines stipulated under the technical support agreement. They asked what specific financial or legal penalties are provided for in the contract if the maintenance company fails to fulfill its contractual obligations.
Finally, the parliamentary question raised the issue of ultimate accountability for maintaining hospital readiness when essential medical equipment fails. The lawmakers called on the political leadership of the Health Ministry to state what concrete actions will be taken to ensure patient safety and maintain uninterrupted operation during general emergency shifts.
