Filenews 20 June 2024 - by Marilena Panayi
The Health Insurance Organisation has decided to set an age limit for all health professionals offering services to patients through the General Health System.
The relevant decision was taken at the last meeting of the HIO Board of Directors and according to it, all professionals will leave the System when they reach the age of 75.
The 75-year age limit does not apply only to GHS doctors, who have been mentioned in several cases in the past in relation to their age, but also to all health professionals who have registered in the System and offer services, either under personal contract (as individuals) or as employees of companies.
That is, this measure will affect, among others, personal doctors, specialists, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, clinical dieticians, podiatrists, speech pathologists, etc.
The decision will be implemented by legislation, after of course it has been voted first by the House of Representatives. It will also include a transitional provision for existing health professionals from the age of 70 and over who are given the opportunity to participate in the System for a period of another five years.
If, for example, a doctor who already participates in the GHS is currently 72 years old, he will be able to participate in the GHS until the age of 77. If he is 76 years old today, he will be able to participate in the System until the age of 81 and so on.
According to official HIO data, at present, doctors over the age of 75 make up 4% of personal doctors and 2% of specialist doctors.
In total, GHS doctors over the age of 75 are around 70. In the case of personal doctors, their number is around 30, while the number of specialist doctors over 75 years old is about 40.
As the Director General of the HIO, Andreas Papaconstantinou, told "F", "this decision was taken by the Board of Directors of the Organization with the sole concern of protecting patients and further shielding public health. On the basis of the implementation of the Organization's strategic planning, which was very recently presented by our president, the Organization places particular emphasis on upgrading the quality of services provided and this is a measure in this direction".
He also added that "this measure will aim to create more favorable conditions for young doctors and other health professionals to join the System, since, with the departure of doctors over 75 years old, more opportunities will be created for young people. This will at least to some extent have a positive effect on financial management as well."
As for why the 75th year was chosen, it was stressed that "the 75th year was considered a reasonable limit since it potentially gives another 10 years of good service to the health professional from the established retirement year, the 65th year, which is considered reasonable".
He also noted that "the measure could not have immediate effect for existing health professionals since this would cause a general disruption to the System. That is why the Board of Directors decided to give a transitional period of 5 years so that everyone participating in the GHS can adapt smoothly to the new arrangements".
At the same time, Mr. Papaconstantinou clarified that "with this decision in no case does the Organization interfere in the role of the Ministry of Health or the Pancyprian Medical Association or any other competent professional association. If the Ministry of Health in the future determines other arrangements for all health professionals providing services in the Republic of Cyprus inside or outside the GHS, then the Organization will adapt to the relevant decisions. We are simply now regulating the age framework within the GHS, where it is the responsibility of the Agency."
In this regard, he clarified that once a doctor or other health professional who leaves the System due to this age restriction, but retains the license to practice the profession, will be able to continue his services outside the GHS.
Finally, the Director-General of the Organization said that "the issue has been discussed several times in the past in the public debate and obviously it was also a demand of society to set a reasonable age restriction. Our compatriots, although they have the right to choose, so they can, if they wish, avoid a health professional who is old enough, at the same time, they expect the System itself to act on their behalf."
