Thu, June 26, 2008
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Greek City Blog - Koritisi Stin Athina in Hospital So it turns out that Italy left me with more than fun memories, it left me with a killer mozzie bite that has led into yet another ‘first’ experience here in the land of the ancient gods. And perhaps the ancient health care systems.
Step 1. Avoid going to the doctor and waiting in any line, simply go to the pharmacist with a self diagnosis and ask for what prescription medicine you would like over the counter...however, the infected bite doesn’t go away. Step 2. Visit the pharmacist for anti-biotic's, let’s just get some ‘generic’ ones to cover all and any sickness… Ok so none of the above worked, and come Sunday night I had to ring around to find which hospital “efimerevi”. This means that on Sundays only one hospital in the area is open, and they take shifts each Sunday. Step 3. Go to the hospital. Driving there, I’m curious and somewhat anxious about what I’m about to experience, and as I get out of the car I hear an old lady yell out “giatreeeeeee” – oh gosh what village have I stepped into? I walked in wide eyed at all the wandering patients in the corridor and was directed by a fellow injured to the nurse in charge. She didn’t ask for any official papers, she didn’t give me a ticket with a number, instead the security guard told me to sit at outside the surgery section and pointed who I would be after. Quite efficient! I sat in the 1950’s corridor, and watched the motorbike accident patients, the old giagiades and pappoudes and who could forget the guest star appearance by the local stray dog. Yes, a big mongrel dog calmly strolled through the corridor as if he had an appointment, all the way to the end and back again. Hilarious. Hygienic?! hmmm My turn through the squeaky wooden door of the ‘mikro hirourgeio’, it looked like in the movies where soldiers go to a common room to get patched up. I lay on the bed with the doctor asking me questions, half of which I didn’t understand but answered hoping it wouldn’t affect what she would do to me and not kill me! TSAK TSAK minor surgery done, all OK! But hey, they never mentioned a needle, nor did they mention the snappy nurse with the frizzy blonde hair who poked me with it. “kopeliaaaaa!” she screams at me – takes the needle out and gives me a cotton wool to press it with, seems her make up was more important than even letting me know she was done. I was scared that they’d make me pay seeing as my IKA (Medicare equivelant) papers were not finalized yet, so I played the tourist with my Aussie passport. In the big book of patients that was as old as the building, she simply wrote my name without as much as a glance at my passport! So I was cured, 1 hour later, I was in and out – treated for free with no real dramas and full of fun observations… and so I smiled and waved goodbye to the dog as he slept in the corridor next to the awaiting wheelchairs… Rouvas is about to become a dad... who is the Koumbaro?? Katia Zigouli and Sakis Rouvas have been on and
off for years but now its all been sealed with Katia annouoncing
the
arrival of their first child together. Sakis learnt about the news on his recent
Oz / America tour and of course who did
he turn around and ask to be the koumbaro ?? Antonis Remos of course. Nikos Sergianopoulos. Murder, drugs, sex.
This one has it all. Niko Sergianopoulos, one of the most popular actors here
in Greece, was recently murdered in a crime of intense passion. Australia – Pension agreement implementation to be delayed The Greek-Australian Society in Athens accused the Australian federal government of Kevin Rudd of unjustifiable delay in the implementation of the bilateral pension agreement. The association underlined that the Greek Parliament’s Standing Committee on Social Affairs has unanimously approved the draft law on the Social Security Agreement between Greece and Australia adding that within a week the draft law will be voted in parliament. According to the association, the Australian government has informed Greece that it needs more time and will be ready most likely in early October 2008 or early January 2009 at the latest. ONE YEAR has passed since Greece and Australia signed the long-awaited social security deal, but tens of thousands of Greeks have yet to benefit from the new measures. The bilateral social security agreement is still pending ratification by the Greek parliament. But officials at the labour and social protection ministry told the Athens News they expect parliament to ratify the agreement as early as next month. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sealed the deal during his official visit to Sydney on 23 May 2007, completing nearly 30 years of high-level negotiation. He had said that more than 60,000 Greek-Australians are expected to benefit immediately. The Athens News has obtained a copy of the agreement, which is aimed at making it easier for Greeks residing in Australia and for Australians residing in Greece to claim old-age pension benefits in the other country. Here is an outline of the most important features of the agreement in question-and-answer form. What does the agreement do? Both countries will share responsibility and costs for the social security coverage of eligible old-age pensioners in their retirement years, according to their period of residence/insurance. The agreement will provide improved access to the old-age pension for people in Australia and Greece, allowing people who live in either country to claim their entitlement to pensions from both countries. It will also reduce costs for businesses operating in Australia and Greece (because they won't be required to pay compulsory contributions into both countries' systems when they send employees to work in the other country temporarily). The agreement only covers Greek and Australian old-age pensions. How will the agreement help people? The agreement will help people in Greece and Australia to satisfy the minimum qualifying residence period for an Australian pension and the minimum qualifying insurance period for a Greek pension. Periods of residence in Australia and periods of insurance in Greece can be added together to qualify for Australian and Greek pensions. When the agreement finally takes effect, claims for the Greek old-age pension may be lodged in Australia. Similarly, claims for Australian old-age pensions may be lodged in Greece (with the Social Insurance Institute, IKA-ETAM). The agreement will also eliminate the need for double contributions when Australians are sent to work temporarily in Greece or when Greek employees are sent to work temporarily in Australia. The agreement does not cover healthcare and makes no changes to medical insurance coverage in either country. What does it mean for someone who has worked in both countries? Upon reaching the pension age, people who have lived and worked in both countries may be eligible for two pensions - one from each country. For the Australian pension, a person does not need to prove periods of work in Australia. Eligibility is based on periods of residence in Australia. A period of insurance in Greece can be added to a period of residence in Australia for the purpose of qualifying for a pension from either, or both, countries. How is the Australian pension worked out for permanent residents of Greece? The agreement offers all Australian residents who return to live permanently in Greece after the agreement takes effect, the same formula for calculating their pension as applies to most of Australia's other agreements and its portability laws. It will be based on their working life residence in Australia over a denominator of 25 years. People already living permanently in Greece without Australian pensions when the agreement starts will, for the first time, be able to claim an Australian pension. It will be based on the proportion of their total working life (for this purpose considered to be 44 years) that was spent in Australia. The question of whether a person is a resident of Australia at a particular time is decided on the basis of a person's circumstances. Why are there two different calculations for permanent residents of Greece? Australia's social security system is a non-contributory system, which does not require a person to have worked or paid taxes in Australia. It is based on the concepts of residence and need and is paid out of general revenue/taxes. The formula for calculating Australian pensions was discussed for many years and formally accepted by the Greek government in 2005. How will my Greek pension affect my Australian pension? Australian old-age pensions are subject to income and assets tests, whether you live in Australia or another country. You must tell the Australian authorities about all income you receive from sources in Australia or any other country and about assets you hold in any country. If you have a partner, you must also tell Australian authorities about your partner's income and assets. If your Greek pension and any other income you have is less than the "free area" (currently 3,432 Australian dollars or 2,031 euros per annum for single pensioners and 6,032 Australian dollars or 3,571 euros per annum combined for couples), your Australian pension will not be affected. Amounts over this will reduce the Australian pension by 40 cents (or 20 cents for each member of a couple) for each dollar of income (including Greek old-age pension). Australia has a 10-year qualifying period of residence for an old-age pension. A person who lives in Australia with less than 10 years of Australian residence may qualify for an Australian pension after the agreement starts by adding periods of insurance in Greece. However, until these people have lived in Australia for 10 years, one dollar will be deducted from their Australian pension for each dollar of Greek pension received. How many people are expected to benefit from the agreement? Approximately 60,000 people living in Australia and Greece mailare expected to claim an old-age pension from either, or both, countries after the agreement commences. More people will benefit over time as there are around 125,000 Greek-born residents of Australia and other Australians are increasingly spending part of their working lives overseas. Returning Due to Popular Demand : Alex and Eve
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