A hospital will be built on one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations, the island of Santorini, in a bid to better meet the needs of the 100,000 patients that seek medical attention on the island each year, Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said yesterday.

Avramopoulos said that a medical clinic will be initially built in Imerovigli which will then be upgraded to a hospital over the next two years.

«In two years at the most, Santorini will acquire one of the most modern hospitals in the region,» said the minister.

According to figures from local officials, some 92,000 people sought medical attention on the island in 2006, with most of the cases arising during the busy summer months.

An estimated 1 million people are expected to visit Santorini this year.