In Brief
HEALTH SERVICE
Ministry to recruit more than 10,000 staff by end of April The Health Ministry yesterday pledged to recruit 10,597 nursing and administrative staff for state hospitals by the end of next month. The recruitment of some 6,000 nurses, which Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos promised in January, has already begun, along with the appointment of 1,200 specialist doctors, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the ministry is conducting a fast-track recruitment scheme to put another 3,500 staff in state hospitals. It is believed that the state health service is understaffed by 25,000 employees. Some 15,000 nurses are said to be needed. ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN Syntagma station hosts initiative Members of the public can leave their palm prints and fingerprints on the walls of the Syntagma metro station from today until Sunday afternoon as part of a series of activities organized by the Council of Europe to combat racism. The station will also host juggling shows, body-painting workshops and theatrical performances. Radioactive scare Doctors in Athens and Piraeus yesterday accused Piraeus Prefect Yiannis Michas of being irresponsible earlier this week when he released details of alleged high radiation levels at the Metaxa cancer hospital. Experts immediately said there was no cause for concern as the radiation readings were not representative and doctors yesterday said that Michas should be more careful when releasing technical information which could unfairly undermine people’s faith in public hospitals. Mayo recall The Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) announced yesterday the recall of Hellman’s mayonnaise, produced by Knorr Bestfoods Hellas, on fears of glass fragments being found in the food product. The 230ml container being pulled off the market has a September 2007 expiry date. Drug suspects A man and a woman, aged 42 and 46 respectively, were arrested in Nea Smyrni, southeast Athens, on Wednesday after police found narcotics in their possession, authorities said yesterday. The two suspects, a brother and sister, were found to be in possession of more than a kilo of cannabis and small quantities of ecstasy pills and heroin. The two were also found to have a bank account that contained 78,229 euros in money believed to be drug-related. Ferry accident A passenger ferry carrying 608 people was damaged as it tried to dock in Iraklion harbor, Crete, the Merchant Marine Ministry said. None of the passengers aboard were hurt. The Lato was prevented from sailing back to Piraeus until the small crack in the hull of the ship was repaired.
