Former Health Minister Kremastinos, passes away aged 78

Former Health Minister and professor of cardiology, Dimitris Kremastinos, who had been hospitalised with Covid-19, passed away on Friday aged 78.

Kremastinos had been admitted into Athens’ Evangelismos hospital with medical complications related to Covid-19, on March 26.

He served as a minister in PASOK governments, as vice-president of the Greek Parliament, as well as an MP for the Dodecanese islands with PASOK and the Democratic Coalition. He was also an Emeritus Professor of Cardiology at the University of Athens, Director of the Hellenic College of Cardiology, elected member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, President of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology and the Hellenic College of Cardiology as well as a director of Attica hospitals.

The President of Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her deep sorrow on Twitter.

Sakellaropoulou, in her tweet, said that Kremastinos had served medical science and politics with consistency, kindness, modesty and good ethics and expressed her deep condolences to his relatives.

"The world of science and politics has lost a distinguished member today. In his long journey, Dimitris Kremastinos left a special imprint of dignity, responsibility and efficiency. Warm condolences to his family," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis posted on Twitter.

Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias stated: "Dimitris Kremastinos, Professor of Medicine and former Health Minister, served the health sector with dignity and a sense of responsibility. Warm condolences to his family and to KINAL."