Doctor on Greek Island Quits Due to Lack of Affordable Housing

A Greek doctor on the island of Milos claims she was forced to quit her job and leave the island due to what she stated was a lack of “decent” accommodation, the island’s local health center announced on Tuesday.

The pulmonologist, Anna Nikolaou, had expressed her concerns about the lack of housing for doctors at the island’s health center to the local mayor in the past weeks. Local media outlets claimed that the doctor and mayor were at odds over the topic.

As of Tuesday, Dr. Nikolaou submitted her resignation and left the island, according to Konstantinos Makris, head of management of the island’s health center.

“Unfortunately, our efforts to staff and upgrade the Health Center are encountering obstacles,” Makris stated.

Doctors, locals have trouble finding housing on Greek islands

Many smaller islands in Greece lack large hospitals but are home to smaller health centers instead, where doctors treat locals for non-emergency conditions. Oftentimes, doctors travel from one island to the next throughout the week to treat patients when necessary.

The doctor’s resignation speaks to a larger issue regarding housing on Greek islands. As tourist destinations, Greek islands are full of hotels and holiday rentals, leaving little affordable housing for locals or people looking to relocate to the islands.

In many cases, housing that could be offered to locals at a reasonable price is instead repurposed into vacation rentals that are offered at higher prices than Greeks can afford, leading to a lack of available homes.

The island of Milos

Milos is a stunning volcanic Greek island and is the south-westernmost island in the Cyclades group.

Because of its volcanic origin, Milos possesses a captivating, colorful landscape with soft sandy beaches, underwater sea caves, and reddish cliffs and has more than 75 exotic beaches.

Standing out for its sublime aura, picturesque fishing villages, rich history, and mouth-watering food, Milos is an unfailing Cycladic treasure that will steal your heart with its dazzling beauty.

The diverse landscapes in Milos are surreal; you will always discover something new.

Home to the Venus of Milos statue, which was found on the island but is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris and the beautiful white rock formations of Kleftiko and Sarakiniko beach, as well as the rich-colored Klima village and Plaka’s sunset, Milos’ beauty is unique and showcased in many ways.