Filenews 12 September 2022
In 24 months, the automation of public hospitals will be completed through the integrated health information system signed today at the Presidential Palace with the contractor of the company OTE, which the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Kyriakos Kokkinos, characterized as an ambitious reform program.
In his address at the signing ceremony of the project contract, which took place on Monday morning, at the Presidential Palace, Mr. Kokkinos said that this is being implemented at a time when the transition to digital reality in all sectors without exception is not only a priority, but also a necessity for the development, sustainability and competitiveness of our country.
The key health sector, he added, is a key pillar of credibility and prosperity of a modern state that puts people at the centre and especially in the health sector, which is the anthropocentric element of a society.
The adaptation to the new data created by the digital revolution, and not only, requires the immediate redesign and urgent implementation of a series of structural changes in the health sector, at all levels, he continued. "The state has rightly placed this vision at the core of the Anastasiades government, including in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, reforms and development investments that will contribute to enhancing the preparedness, sustainability, resilience and quality of the country's health system." A system, he said, that ensures on the one hand the fair and equal access of all citizens without exception to quality, medical services, but also on the other hand to meet the needs and expectations of all users of state services of public and private hospitals, health professionals and patients.
The project that was inaugurated today, said Mr. Kokkinos, is a key parameter of the work that has been taking place in recent years in this key sector, and which touches – among other things – aspects such as the electronic patient record and the development of cross-border e-health services in collaboration with the eHealth Authority.
The implementation of the new Integrated Health Information System (MISY) with the culmination of the successful operation of the GHS will result in the substantial upgrade and enrichment of the services provided to citizens and consequently the improvement of the country's standard of living and the increase of the life expectancy of the population, he continued. At the same time, he said, it is expected to contribute catalytically to the optimization of the organization and operation of public hospitals, offering increased efficiency and productivity and saving valuable people resources.
"The modernization of the health system has already been put on track for implementation with visible, substantial and beneficial results that touch every citizen," he said.
He called on everyone and the contractor, which he congratulated, to stand with supporters in the effort for quality modernization and upgrade of the health system of Cyprus, demonstrating a spirit of solidarity, cooperation, collegiality, but also professionalism to the highest degree.
He expressed the belief that by exploiting the enormous potential offered by digital technology, they will provide solutions to various, complex challenges that society is facing today. Together we are called to build the Cyprus of tomorrow and I am sure we can achieve it, he said.
Mr. Kokkinos stressed that this is one of the three main reform projects in which the state and his Deputy Ministry and himself personally have put too much stubbornness to be implemented. This is the reform in the field of justice with i-justice, e-justice, the school management platform in the field of education and the integrated health information system.
"Justice, education and health are high on our priorities and for this reason both I personally and the state will monitor, support and help wherever we can in the implementation of this project," he concluded.
An important day, a milestone for the Organization and public health, was characterized today by the President of the Board of Directors of the SHSO, Marios Panayides. Speaking at the ceremony at the Presidential Palace, Mr. Panayides said that with the signing of the project, an outdated system that currently operates in public hospitals will be replaced. With the implementation of the project, he continued, the Organization will be able to operate much more flexibly and efficiently, as a modern organization is required to operate.
In addition, he said, this will have a direct impact on improving the service of the patient visiting public hospitals. This is, he said, the largest IT project of the Republic of Cyprus which is expected to be completed in 24 months, providing multiple benefits both to the Organization and to society.
The data collected through the system, he continued, are expected to make a decisive contribution to scientific research and development, prevention and treatment, as well as to create mechanisms for comparing and evaluating health data with third countries.
The new, demanding landscape that has been created in recent years in the health sector imposes the digital transformation of the SHSO along with the continuous upgrading of services to citizens, said Mr. Panayides.
The Board of Directors and the Management of the SHSO, he said, remain committed to the main goals set since its establishment, namely the transformation of the Organization into a modern, flexible and effective organization, its financial autonomy, the upgrading of its hospitals and services, remaining the backbone of the GHS. Today's signing for an integrated health information system is an important step in this direction, he noted.
The implementation of the new integrated health information system, he continued, was a commitment of the state to upgrade public hospitals and today it is being implemented.
Mr. Panayides thanked the Ministries of Finance and Health and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, the Directorate and the executives of the Organization who were involved in the project, as well as all the bodies that contributed to it. He also congratulated OTE for undertaking its implementation.
The continuous development and modernization of the Organization and its hospitals is a promise they made from the beginning, said the General Executive Director of the SHSO, Kypros Stavridis, which – he said – they achieve step by step and in this context today's signing of the contract for the implementation of this project is included.
Its estimated cost reaches, he added, 46 million euros. making it one of the largest IT projects to be implemented in Cyprus.
The system, he said, was designed with WHO specifications and experts from all sectors to make a significant contribution to the Agency's mission to provide high-quality health services.
The MISY, he continued, is the latest technology and includes functions that modernize and enhance the entire range of operations of a modern hospital. At the same time, he continued, it includes systems for the organizational and administrative needs of the Organization, while advanced systems and equipment are expected to drastically reduce the processing time of work by increasing communication and cooperation.
With the new information system, he said, "we want to improve the health services provided, reduce operating costs, increase productivity, rid the Organization of outdated systems and reduce human errors."
With the full operation of the new MISY, he continued, in about two years they aim to serve our patients more efficiently and faster. Patients' data, he explained, will be registered electronically in a single, digitized, electronic file offering the possibility of more direct access by medical officers and preserving the privacy and security of their information.
The advantages of operating the system, he said, are multifaceted for society and we are very happy that today we are moving forward with the signing of the contract.
The digital transformation, the continuous modernization of hospitals and the upgrading of the services provided to citizens are key goals for the SHSO, which are implemented on the basis of a long-term, strategic plan, noted Mr. Stavridis.
The digitization of the national health system of Cyprus is a landmark project for the country, public hospitals and health centers, said in his greeting the Sales Manager of the OTE Group, Lykourgos Antonopoulos.
With the help of technology, he added, public health is entering the new digital era and everyone's daily life is becoming simpler and better. As a representative of the OTE Group, he wanted to express satisfaction and joy that they are undertaking this project.
"This is a complex, difficult, demanding project, with many challenges and a very tight schedule." OTE Group is a leading technology company and has the experience and know-how to carry it out with the best result, he said, expressing thanks "for the trust you show us and I wish to those who are successful".
The contract was signed on behalf of the SHSO by Cyprus Stavridis and on behalf of OTE by Lykourgos Antonopoulos.
