Health Minister booed and assaulted during public hospital visit (VIDEOS)

February 19, 2026

Angry doctors and nurses at the Nikaia Hospital in Athens clashed with police on Thursday morning and chanted slogans against Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis and booed him while he was visiting the public health facility.

Protesters had announced their mobilization, authorities had told the minister to not visit the hospital, but he insisted.

The protesters heckled the minister and his personal guard initially trying to hinder him from entering the hospital, but he managed to enter the hospital through another entrance amidst the incidents. They booed him and shouted at him “Fascist!”, “Despicable!” and “Shame!”

The intense clashes between protesters and police continued for quite some time. One doctor and one nurse were injured and received First Aid in the hospital.

One doctor was detained by police for “acts of violence” and was released two hours later. A hospital worker announced to protesters that their colleague was held handcuffed in the Emergencies section.

A neurosurgeon of the hospital and well-known unionist denounced on a post that riot police beat the protesters and fired teargas inside the hospital.

Minister Georgiadis was quick to appear to several media after he had left the hospital and said an egg and a water bottle were thrown at him.

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“My physical integrity was endangered. Violence is not a legal right,” Georgiadis said among others adding that he did not file a lawsuit against the doctor who attacked him.

The minister accused protesters of being “known communists from ANTARSYA [left-wing party]” and their goal was to prevent him from entering the hospital and to intimidate him.

“I have no problem with the labor mobilization. The issue today was that they had planned to prevent me from entering the hospital. My physical integrity was at risk. From the objects that were flying, water, stones, I was trapped in the bars. Obviously they wanted to intimidate me and make me leave, which did not happen,” minister Georgiadis stressed.

“Police arrested a doctor who attacked me very badly physically and verbally, but I decided not to sue him,” he said adding he did not file against him and he was released “because it is not right for the Health Minister to sue doctors.”

Speaking later to Action24 TV Georgiadis claimed that he had hurt his hand during the incidents.

The Minister visited the hospital in order to inaugurate the renovated Emergency section, however, protesters say – as in other hospital across the country – that painting and plastered walls and ceiling are not enough to upgrade the public health care system but the hiring of more personnel.

A plaster fell on a worker at the newly renovated Emergencies of Laiko hospital in Athens three days ago. It was a miracle that no patient or accompanied person was walking at the narrow corridor of the section.
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