Doctors walk out in Greece

Doctors in Greek state hospitals have walked out in protest against social security changes that will see their pensions reduced and contributions increased.

Doctors on strike, workers in public hospitals and other syndicates protest in Athens against #EU and government policies.#Greecepic.twitter.com/fRSnMm8×2x

— Savvas Karmaniolas (@savvaskarma) March 2, 2017

Hundreds of medical staff took to the streets in Athens as run down hospitals are cutting off vital drugs, limiting non-urgent operations and rationing basic materials.

In its seventh year of deep recession, Greece is trapped under Europe’s biggest public debt burden.

State hospital doctor, Afrodite Renviou, said: “We will not accept the notion that we lost what we lost.

“We will fight to claim back our losses, and furthermore we will remain alert and vigilant because the government is about to further escalate its assault on our incomes.”

Another doctor, Gerasimos Roubis, said: “We doctors are also victims of the havoc the economic crisis created with the country’s creditors demanding wage cuts.

“Our only option is to join forces with the rest of the society and fight back.”