Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that doctors serving in 47 small islands with fewer than 4,000 residents will receive an additional €1,500 per month—net—starting as part of a new initiative supported by the Stelios Haji-Ioannou Foundation. The announcement was made in an Instagram video posted on Thursday evening, March 5, 2026.
A Human-Centered Initiative for Remote Healthcare
The donation, directed to Greece’s National Health System (ESY), marks a shift from traditional philanthropy focused on infrastructure toward direct support for healthcare personnel. As Mitsotakis emphasized earlier that day at a related event, this is a ‘distinct’ effort—one designed not to fund buildings or equipment, but to strengthen the human workforce in underserved island communities.
The €1,500 monthly supplement will be provided to 80 doctors across the 47 islands for a period of seven years. Its aim is to alleviate long-standing staffing shortages in island-based medical practices, particularly in areas where winter populations fall below 4,000.
Addressing Real-World Challenges
While the Greek state already offers incentives for doctors working in remote regions, Mitsotakis acknowledged persistent, objective difficulties—including high living costs—even in relatively attractive destinations like Spetses. These challenges have historically deterred medical professionals from accepting postings in such locations.
In his Instagram post, the Prime Minister publicly thanked the Stelios Haji-Ioannou Foundation—a well-known Greek philanthropic organization founded by the EasyJet co-founder—for its “very significant” contribution to ESY.