While Greeks are trying to survive the financial crisis, in Austria there is a man who has gathered thousands of euros worth of medicine from local pharmaceuticals in Salzburg, and is trying to deal with the Greek bureaucracy in order to offer help to a hospital in Athens.
Erwin Schrümpf seems to be surprised by Greeks’ poverty and the way people are struggling with medical expenses.
He said: “With one in four out of work it is not a surprise, I decided to try and help by asking local pharmaceutical firms to offer items for free.”
He sent a container full of most needed medical goods destined for the Elpis hospital in Athens, which is the only hospital in Greece where patients are treated without insurance.
He said: “It was surprisingly easy, the desire to make donations is there, but bringing the medicine where it is needed and getting the permits is surprisingly hard.”
The container’s transportation has been cancelled many times as Greek officials from the local control board E.O.F. constantly demand new paperwork.
Director of the Elpis hospital, Theodoros Jannaros, said the delivery from Salzburg was urgently needed.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
