Directors and managers of national health system hospitals and health centres will henceforth be asked to submit annual statements of their wealth and assets, based on an amendment tabled in Parliament by Health Minister Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou on Monday.

The minister said that the change was made as a way of reinforcing supervision of the state health system.

Similar statements of wealth and assets are currently submitted by public officials in key decision-making positions, such as MPs, ministers, judges, police officers and tax officials but also journalists and other groups.

Meanwhile, hospital doctors on Monday began a five-day strike to protest against round-the-clock operation for state hospitals, which all will operate with a skeleton staff until Friday.