A 72-year-old cancer patient in Heraklion, Crete, took his own life after being unable to bear the pain and waiting for chemotherapy drugs, a drug that is in short supply in Greece.
This issue was raised a few days ago by the local radio station Radio Kriti, and great efforts have been made to find this drug for the treatment of lung cancer, since it is currently unavailable in Greece.
The man was diagnosed with lung cancer two months ago, during which time the tumor grew from 6 cm to 9.5 cm. During these two months, the man waited for the medicine to begin his first chemotherapy, and suffered excruciating pain due to lack of treatment. On Sunday, March 10, a cancer patient decided to commit suicide by putting a noose around his neck.
He left a handwritten note saying goodbye to his family, asking for their forgiveness and explaining his reasons for committing suicide, effectively becoming a victim of the Social Security Administration.
In a tragic irony, after the problem was brought to the attention of the local media, the drug became available, and in fact the first chemotherapy was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 12th.
Speaking to Radio Kriti, the patient’s cousin revealed what was written in the note he left. In it, he said goodbye to his children, grandchildren and other relatives, writing, in particular, that he could not stand the pain and that he could not sleep. At the same time, he pointed out the enormous problems that he had to endure, since he was not even able to undergo examination with a special PET SCAN machine available at the PAGNI public hospital in Heraklion to determine whether the cancer had spread. The next decision was to move to Athens, but he could not afford it. The man was known to the local population because he sold books in open markets.
Lung cancer drug shortage
In early March, Radio Kriti raised the issue of a shortage of drugs needed for chemotherapy for lung cancer patients. “Hundreds of cancer patients in Heraklion have been in despair for a long time and have reached the point where they cannot even carry out chemotherapy,” – Radio Kriti reported. The reason is a shortage of drugs for lung cancer, which, no matter how hard you search in Greece, are impossible to find.
This medicine is sold in pharmacies and whenever a cancer patient is going to go to the hospital for chemotherapy, he must first buy it from the pharmacy and then provide it to the hospital to complete the treatment. The cost of the drug is 11.50 euros, and participation in the program for cancer patients is zero.
According to Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association member Yiannis Tsikandilakis, the only way to import a drug into Greece is a medical report from a hospital stating that the drug is essential and arrangements must be made for its delivery.
According to the pharmacist, this process takes about a month
This man is not the first and will not be the last cancer patient in Greece who finds it difficult to find special medications, undergo the necessary diagnostic tests in public hospitals, or obtain psychological or other support to get through the difficult times, pain and despair that he experiences.
Since Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis increased patient ownership of generic medicines, including for cancer patients, from early 2024, there are low-income patients who cannot afford them. Many patients have also complained on social media about drug shortages for specific types of chemotherapy, as well as the side effects (such as low white blood cell counts) of those that patients are forced to buy at the pharmacy.
In many government hospitals, appointments for a screening CT or MRI are available after 6 months, and for a PET scan after a month, if you’re lucky. These scans cost between 70 and 140 euros, while a Pet Scan costs 1,200 if you pay privately.
In private institutions (hospitals, diagnostic centers, etc.) you will receive an appointment in an average of 6 weeks if you have a doctor’s referral. If you pay the entire cost privately, you will be scheduled for an appointment within two days.
If you have money, you can survive, if not, you are doomed
As the cynical Minister Georgiadis said when speaking about the state of public services, “You survive if you adapt, otherwise you die.” I would not be surprised if, after the tragedy in Heraklion, he declared that “we managed to reduce the number of cancer patients in Greece,” or “cancer patients will still die someday.” The question arises, what is the point of paying for public health insurance then?
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