UPDATE June 26, 2018 – Good news!
After the mobilizations that took place inside and outside Greece, the Metropolitan Social Health Center of Hellinikon (MKIE) is able to continue without obstacles its function in its premises where it is located since the end of 2011. The government has promised in writing that it will take care for the relocation of the MKIE to premises that MKIE will find appropriate to carry on its work. This positive development occurred after an unprecedented movement of support, both in Greece and outside the country.
We receive happy to publish this call for solidarity from the Metropolitan Social Health Centre of Elliniko (MKIE), Athens. We had the opportunity to visit in 2015 this extraordinary experience of a self managed social clinic providing free health care to people without insurance and we strongly support their struggle.
Send your adhesion to the petition to fereniki3@hotmail.com
IN SUPPORT OF THE METROPOLITAN SOCIAL HEALTH CENTRE OF ELLINIKO (MKIE)
The state company of ELLINIKO A.E. issued last week an ultimatum demanding “Metropolitan Social Health Centre of Elliniko” (MKIE) to evacuate its premises in the publicly owned old airport of Elliniko. This is in order to facilitate the privatization of the old airport, despite the resistance of all those who demand a creation of a Metropolitan park, a green area of culture and sport activities open to all in its space. The ultimatum demands the MKIE to empty its premises by the 30th of June (!), without proposing any alternative space for re-location in another public building. Therefore, this is not just an eviction but a lethal blow.
MKIE was founded in December 2011 and it has been the continuation of the vast mobilizations of Syntagma sq. in that summer. It was and still is the response of socially active and sensitive citizens against the violence of the crisis and austerity that was imposed to the many by the few. Its primary aim has been the provision of free health services and medicine for anyone uninsured, unemployed and poor, the first victims of the crisis who were abandoned by the public health care services. At the same time, it claimed the reinstatement of free and universal health and medical care for all those excluded from them.
Moreover, with its action created a new way and mode in the provision of health services, putting the human beings in the center of health practice, and not only the illness.
Based on self-organization, autonomy, horizontal democratic function and without any kind of political or economic bonds, MKIE inspired and brought together hundreds of volunteers. All these years, the latter have cared with solidarity and respect 7.366 individual patients in over 64.000 visits to MKIE. Moreover, the needs of MKIE are supported by solidarity actions developed by thousands of people in Greece and internationally.
The MKIE from its start serves people from all over Attica and beyond. It has also supported with medicine, refugee camps, NGOs and public hospitals. MKIE wants to continue without any obstacle its operations because it is still a need for this. For that reason, MKIE is determined to fight shoulder to shoulder with all its patients and supporters.
We who work in academic and research institutions, recognize the immense social and humanitarian contribution of the MKIE. Moreover, we consider it an innovative example of communal management of public assets and of urban space, an incubator of novel approaches to the health practices, and a space where new social relations and knowledge is produced. Therefore, we state wholeheartedly our support in its struggle to continue its route on the road of solidarity, dignity, respect and humanism.
find here a recognition in the Hellinikon airport area with info about the development projects
