Filenews 5 November 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
In the trenches for the protection of the GHS will enter again the forces that supported its passage, after the submission of a law proposal that undermines the philosophy of the System. Before 24 hours have passed since the statement of the Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas that, "if the Parliament in its wisdom changes the philosophy of the GHS, the Government will have no choice but to apply the law", the President of EDEK proceeded to the submission of an amendment which gives the right to doctors and dentists outside the GHS, to prescribe for medicines and tests within the System, while the deputy president of DISY came back to his statements leaving open any possibility, since in several cases yesterday he had stated that his party "cannot reject a proposal unless first it is studied".
What is certain is that the GHS war is underway on many fronts and both in the government camp, as it emerged earlier this week, and within EDEK, there are two diametrically opposed tendencies between them.
On the part of DISY, the president of the party Averoff Neophytou, for the second time in the space of a few days, rushed to clarify the scene after statements by deputy president Harris Georgiades, stating characteristically that "there are no changes in the philosophy and architecture of the GHS. Full stop."
As far as EDEK is concerned, the background brings executives and MPs of the party not to agree with the action of Marinos Sizopoulos, while the stance of the Trade Union affiliated to EDEK, DEOK, which publicly clarified its position yesterday, is strongly opposed, stating characteristically in a statement of "Hands off the GHS" and adding that "it is unacceptable to have small problems that naturally arise in a such a major reform to be maximized and exploited politically with the obvious aim of altering and undermining basic principles and fundamental elements such as the institution of the personal doctor and the mono-insurance character of the System".
The reaction of the HIO is angry and warns that, if the Parliament votes for this amendment, the GHS risks being blown up in the air, with the director of the HIO Andreas Papakonstantinou explaining, speaking to "F", that "if the proposal of Marinos Sizopoulos is adopted by the Plenum of the Parliament, then we will see:
· The departure of Special Doctors from the System and the reduction of the competence of Special Doctors in the GHS.
· As a result of the exodus of the Special Doctors, the beneficiaries will be obliged to apply to doctors outside the System with negative financial consequences, since they will pay out of their own pocket, which will consequently affect the proper receipt of continuous and quality health care.
· The Specialists who will discontinue their cooperation with the Organization, as well as those who are already outside the System, will not have access to the SOFTWARE of the SOO. This will result in uncontrolled prescribing, since many medicines are tested by protocols before being prescribed by GHS doctors.
· This will neutralize the proper continuity of medical care. The same applies to cases of referral to other GHS providers, such as clinical and radiodiagnostic laboratories, to other Medical Specialists and/or other providers.
· The OAU will not be able to supervise the prescription by these Doctors, nor will it be able to take any measures against them, since there will be no contractual relationship with the Organization.
· It will overturn the balance, philosophy and mono-insurance character of the System and will provoke significant reactions from the Doctors who will remain in the System.
The HIO's message to the political parties, said Mr. Papakonstantinou, is clear: "Any possible changes that would result in an increase in the number of visitors to Medical Specialists or that would encourage/favour Special Doctors to leave the GHS, would upset the balances that have been created, especially in relation to the adequacy of the services of Special Doctors in the System, but it would also create two-tier patient service."
The latest development with the submission of a law proposal for amendments to the GHS, has again caused fierce clashes on the internet, with the former Minister of Health George Pamboridis exchanged fire and heavy characterizations with the president of EDEK and the scene became inflamed when the representatives of organized patients entered the public debate, indicating by name to both Marinos Sizopoulos and Haris Georgiadis, that "the philosophy of the GHS will be protected by those who need and use the System, the citizens". In fact, the president of the Federation of Cyprus Patients' Associations, Marios Kouloumas, referred to a "serious conflict of interest since Marinos Sizopoulos", as he said, "as a non-GHS doctor takes care of his own interest", while the representative of OSAK on the board of directors of the HIO Miltos Miltiadous in a post on twitter said: "The amendment of the law has been officially submitted. Under the pretext of serving the patient, to start, instead of correction, the unravelling of the GHS. There will come more such hours and on the issue of Health it seems that every politician whose interests he serves: the citizen's or others".
In the chorus of statements, almost all the trade unions that participate in the board of the OECD. Apart from the SEK, which issued a statement on Monday, on Wednesday PEO also took a position on the issue, stating in a statement that "it is obvious that these proposals aim at altering the philosophy and character of the GHS", noting that "the workers, the society that is the lever of creation of the GHS, will once again be ahead for its preservation and protection".
The war continues on the internet
The former ministers of health are back in the trenches for the protection of the GHS's philosophy, with Giorgos Pamboridis and Constantinos Ioannou this time focusing their fire on Marinos Sizopoulos. The online quarrel began before the submission of the amendment of the legislation was well known and this time it was triggered by accusations by the president of EDEK against the president of OSAK for "serving interests".
"It is known to those who deal with Health that Mr. Sizopoulos wants to dismantle the GHS, but to accuse and slander the leadership of organized patients goes beyond the limits," Konstantinos Ioannou commented on twitter. Giorgos Pamboridis followed, stating that "as long as some well-known political crooks engage in slandering me, the more my political choices in favour of the citizen are vindicated. My honour and my pride that I found myself facing them. My honour and my pride that they never wrapped me in their tentacles. "
EDEK then counterattacked, claiming that "it has become really tiring, to submit proposals for improving the implementation of the GHS and strengthening its philosophy, and those who want to call themselves ''GHS defenders'' instead of studying our proposals and entering into a constructive discussion to correct the GHS's problems, all they do is shoot EDEK and its President every day". He argued that: "EDEK reinforces the GHS's philosophy that provide for the free choice of doctor and hospital, a global budget, a mono-insurance system, and the strengthening of the public health sector", concluding that "the timely submission of proposals for the reorganization of public hospitals, the revelation of Nicholson's incompatibility and the opinion that EDEK requested to be made by the Attorney General on the HIO's agreements with private hospitals, there are only a few proofs that we are fighting for patients and strengthening the GHS. Others may continue not to table proposals, tolerate the perpetuation of problems and the non-respect of the contributions paid by citizens, and shoot EDEK. We will not follow."
It can not be placed unless Haris Georgiadis studies
On the part of the President and the Minister of Health, there was no official position yesterday, after the submission of the amending proposal by Marinos Sizopoulos. Statements were made during the day by the deputy president of DISY Harris Georgiades, who asked about whether his party will support the proposal of EDEK, replied: "I cannot answer in relation to a proposal of another party that we have not seen. This is not how DISY operates, precisely because the completion of the GHS's three-year period is coming, which provides for a re-evaluation, review of the plan, DISY studies and evaluates all aspects of the operation of the Plan. We do our own study and our own assessment. I cannot therefore comment on a proposal in advance and from the air." Referring to his previous position on changes in the way personal doctors are paid and asked to comment on the fact that the OECD is already working on a relevant proposal which does not provide for changes in the legislation, Mr. Georgiadis said: "well, if the correction of this problem ultimately requires a change in the law, why should we exclude it?"
The new placements of Harry Georgiadis resulted in the re-summoning of the Averoff Neophytou to be placed. "There is no question of changing the architecture and philosophy of the GHS, full stop. On the contrary, we are in favour of the strict application of the GHS's laws and of any stay or exploitation by anyone who is deft. For the good of patients and society. So change of philosophy or architecture, full stop, there is no such issue", he noted.
