Filenews 21 December 2022
The President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, laid a foundation stone for the first phase of the construction of the Mental Health Centre, costing €12 million.
Specifically, the President stressed that it is with great pleasure that we are laying the foundation stone of another project that is in addition to the efforts we are making to promote the sensitive health sector, aiming at providing a high, quality and efficient level of medical and pharmaceutical services to the wider society.
The New Mental Health Centre, with a total cost of €33,200,000, includes well-equipped building facilities that allow the provision of high quality services for the treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of people.
In the first phase of construction, with a budget of more than €12 million:
• One Acute Case Clinic for Men and one for Women, with a total capacity of 44 beds.
• A Therapeutic Unit for Addicted Persons, including Outpatient Clinics, with a capacity of 20 beds, through which rehabilitation services from alcohol and other substances will be provided.
The President said planning for the second phase of the project has begun, which will increase the capacity and serviceability of more beneficiaries, the new centre is expected to upgrade the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of the care offered. He noted that at the same time, by providing the necessary, as well as the intended goal, it will upgrade the working environment of dozens of mental health workers.
The President also made a special reference to the qualitative enhancement of mental health services, but also to the actions implemented by the government.
• The upgrading of the Men's Acute Cases Clinic, the Men's Intermediate Closed Clinic and the Occupational Therapy Department at the Athalassa Hospital, with a total cost of €1,350,000.
• The building remodelling of a structure in the community that will function as a protected hospice for the accommodation of chronic patients, who currently remain at the Athalassa Hospital. With the operation of the guesthouse, the Athalassa Hospital will be decongested.
• The operation of the Safe Hospitalization Unit in the psychiatric clinic in Limassol for mentally ill patients, with a capacity of eight beds.
• The remodelling of rented space for the creation of a Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Nicosia.
• The promotion of centres of excellence of specialized services, such as the Centre for Eating Disorders of children and adolescents at Makarios Hospital.
The PD said that in addition to the GHS reform, the budget of the Ministry of Health is increased by 79% compared to the past decade. In this context, the HIO's expenditure on care services for GHS beneficiaries in 2022 is expected to amount to €1.35 billion, while it is estimated that between 2023 and 2027 it will amount to €7.3 billion.
In addition, he noted that "we have implemented and are implementing development projects, amounting to €351 million that not only contribute to the improvement of the care services provided, but also satisfy long-standing demands and are decisive infrastructure for the operation of the health system that we currently enjoy".
Also in the period 2013-2021, investments in medical equipment exceeded €90 million and a further €24 million is expected to be spent on medical equipment this year.
The most important thing is that, in addition to what is provided for in the annual budgets in the Plan "Cyprus – Tomorrow", important provisions have been included for the health sector, for additional expenditure, amounting to more than €80 million. Provisions that include reforms and growth investments that will contribute further to increasing the readiness, resilience and quality of services of the General Health System in general.
