Exarcheia Self-Organized Health Structure is a social solidarity initiative in

Exarcheia Exarcheia ( ) is a neighbourhood in central Athens, Greece close to the historical building of the National Technical University of Athens. Exarcheia took its name from a 19th-century businessman named Exarchos () who opened a large general store t ...

neighborhood of

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

with the aim of providing medical care to people who need it. It is located in Κ*ΒΟΞ, a squatted building near Exarcheia square. On 21 April 2012, the building (which was neglected and not hosting any service) was captured by

anarchists Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that seeks to abolish all institutions that perpetuate authority, coercion, or hierarchy, primarily targeting the state and capitalism. Anarchism advocates for the replacement of the state w ...

with the aim to transform it in a self-organized social center. Police tried to stop the capture of the building, but anarchists, helped by the residents of the neighborhood (which is known for its

anti-authoritarian Anti-authoritarianism is opposition to authoritarianism. Anti-authoritarians usually believe in full equality before the law and strong civil liberties. Sometimes the term is used interchangeably with anarchism, an ideology which entails opposing a ...

character), removed the metal sheets placed over the exterior by the police and the opening of the squat continued as planned. The structure is staffed by doctors of several specializations, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists and non-expert residents of the area (for the non-medical functions of the structure). All services are offered free of charge. Decisions are taken by an open assembly with means of

direct democracy Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which the Election#Electorate, electorate directly decides on policy initiatives, without legislator, elected representatives as proxies, as opposed to the representative democracy m ...

. The structure has an

anti-establishment An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958 by the British magazine ''New Statesman'' ...

character and distinguishes itself from charity.

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Further reading