Filenews 19 April 2024 - by Marilena Panayi
The Ministry, with the Government, is trying to close six years of holes in Health, with the Government even appearing ready to clash, if necessary, in order to complete the reform of the Sector.
However, the Government itself should not be excluded from the equation of conflicts, at the level of the Council of Ministers, as in the past, some of the issues that are currently being promoted have been the subject of disagreements between competent Ministries and Ministers. A striking example is the bill concerning the operation of ambulances, which is essentially pending before the Cabinet from the summer of 2023.
The bills concerning the Patient Ombudsman, rehabilitation services and university clinics have taken a turn and the next period is considered particularly crucial since on all three specific issues in the past there have been strong disagreements and public controversies between those involved.
Yesterday, Health Minister Michalis Damianos announced during a press conference that this bill has been completed and is in the Legal Service for legislative review with the aim of submitting it to Parliament for voting in May. In the past period, as we are informed, the Minister of Health and his colleagues have elaborated everything that had been put forward in the consultation for at least the last six years and came up with the final text that is currently being promoted. The bill has changed its content several times over the years due to objections raised by other state institutions. At the moment, however, it seems that both the Minister and the President of the Republic are determined to push it forward regardless of objections.
During the conference, which was given on the occasion of the completion of one year of Nikos Christodoulides' government, the Minister of Health also referred to the bill that provides for the operation of rehabilitation centers in Cyprus. As Michalis Damianos said, there was a re-consultation with all stakeholders on the bill that had been submitted to Parliament in June 2023 and then withdrawn and "is expected to be resubmitted next June". According to information, the Minister of Health and those affected have reached a mutually acceptable path and at the moment what has been agreed is being processed by the Ministry of Health in order to be incorporated into the bill. It is recalled that in the summer of 2023, the Ministry of Health found itself in a difficult position when those involved in the field of rehabilitation had strongly disagreed (each side for its own reasons) with the content of the bill that had been prepared at the time.
Regarding the bill concerning the operation of university hospitals and university clinics, the Minister of Health said that "it is at the stage of re-consultation with all stakeholders before submitting it for legislative scrutiny to the Legal Service". The bill is expected to be resubmitted to Parliament in 2024. The Minister of Health had last month asked all stakeholders in writing for their positions in order for the Ministry to proceed with the preparation of the bill. The timetable given by the Minister for submitting comments expires on 30 April.
Regarding the bill that provides for the operation of ambulances, the Minister of Health was content to say that it will be submitted to Parliament for voting before the end of 2024. After the disagreement that had arisen a year ago between the Ministries of Finance and Health on the issue, the President of the Republic took it upon himself in order to stop the intergovernmental dispute. Developments, as we are informed, should be expected soon, since for a few weeks now Nikos Christodoulides has in his hands a specific proposal which he is studying, while the Minister of Health has already informed the Presidential Council of his own intentions and his will to promote the creation of a competent authority.
Sponsorships and incentives for accreditation and equipment in hospitals
Next June, the payment of state grants will begin to hospitals in Cyprus, both public and private, which wish to proceed or have already advanced the procedures for their accreditation.
As the Minister of Health noted, "a plan has been approved for the provision of government sponsorships to private and public hospitals for the purpose of Accreditation".
The plan, as Mr. Damianos said, "provides incentives in the form of government sponsorship to private and public hospitals to upgrade the quality of health services provided through the implementation of standards and their accreditation by competent bodies." The total cost of the plan, covered by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, amounts to €2.5 million.
At the same time, said Michalis Damianos, "the scheme to subsidize hospitals for the purchase of new medical equipment was approved." The plan "seeks to strengthen competitiveness and upgrade health services".
According to the Minister of Health, so far, "44 applications have been submitted by 24 hospitals and 32 agreements have already been concluded for applications submitted by 20 hospitals."
Mr. Damianos also referred to the Government's decision to pay state sponsorship to the State Health Services Organization for another year. To this end, as he said, "a memorandum of understanding was prepared between the Ministries of Health and Finance with the SHSO as well as an action plan by the SHSO as well as an amending bill which were forwarded to the Legal Service for legislative scrutiny and will be submitted to the Council of Ministers and the Parliament for voting immediately." The amendment of the legislation is considered necessary since a state grant payment to the SHSO is currently foreseen until the end of May 2024.
A series of bills go to Parliament
Michalis Damianos, during the conference, referred to a number of other bills that have also been pending for years. As he said, in 2024, bills are expected to be submitted to Parliament concerning: palliative care services, clinical laboratories, the operation of clinics and dental clinics, hospitals and radiodiagnostic centers.
The bill regulating the profession of rescuer (ambulance crew) has been submitted to the Legal Service for legal scrutiny. His testimony to Parliament is expected to take place next June.
Regarding the establishment and operation of a National Clinical Documentation Centre, the Minister of Health said that "the planning for possible models of its organization and operation aimed at promoting the quality of the services provided has been completed".
