Former Greek Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos dies from coronavirus

Greece’s former health minister, cardiologist and university professor Dimitris Kremastis has died of new coronavirus, Greek officials said Friday. He was 78. Kremastis, a widely respected doctor who became a household name in Greece as personal physician of late prime minister Andreas Papandreou in mid-1990s, was admitted to Ans’ Evangelismos hospital on March 26. He died Friday morning after being in intensive care unit for COVID-19.

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias tweeted that former minister “served health sector with dignity and a sense of responsibility.”

Tributes for Kremastis, who was currently serving as parliament vice-president and was a member of center-left KINAL party, poured in.

Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India's Cases Rise To 59,662; 17,846 Recoveries, 1,981 Deaths

'Left special imprint'

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute, saying “ world of science and politics today lost a leading member.” prime minister tweeted that professor had “left a special imprint of dignity, responsibility and effectiveness.” Already a leading cardiologist, Kremastis became well-kwn in Greece when he became involved in medical care of Papandreou, who spent last months of his premiership critically ill before his death in 1996.

Read: WHO Confirms 'cats Are Susceptible To Coronavirus', Says Poultry, Pigs t Affected

Born on May 1, 1942, Kremastis grew up on eastern Aegean island of Rhodes before studying medicine in University of Ans and University of London. Returning to his homeland, he set up a specialized cardiac intensive care unit in one of Greek capital’s main public hospitals and ran cardiac department of Ans General State Hospital and Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center.

Kremastis was a member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He joined centre-left PASOK socialist party, which dominated Greek politics for more than 30 years, from its creation in 1974, and stuck with it as it changed in 2018 into KINAL. Kremastis served as Greece’s health minister in 1993-1996.

Read: Trump Discusses World Ecomy With Saudi King Salman, Germany's Merkel Amid Coronavirus

Read: WHO Warns Of 'significant Alteration' To Lifestyles Until COVID-19 Vaccine Is Found

(Representational Im: Pixabay)