Filenews 6 September 2024
Doctor's offices and dental offices, in apartment buildings or buildings inaccessible to the entire population end. A draft law prepared by the Ministry of Health and currently under public consultation provides for accessibility standards to be applied by all surgeries, dental clinics and outpatient care centres in the public and private sectors in Cyprus.
The bill defines, among other things, the criteria, building and not only, that all clinics and dental practices will meet in order to obtain an operating license, while defining the minimum equipment that every doctor or dentist must have.
If these criteria are not met, no authorisation will be granted. If a license is granted and subsequently discounts are observed, administrative fines will be imposed, while in case a practice or dental practice operates without a license, the owner/manager will face a prison sentence.
In fact, as the bill provides, "outpatient health care providers operating under any form or designation at the time of entry into force of the law, are obliged to comply with accessibility standards within one year.
In cases where a doctor's office or dental clinic is housed in an apartment building, in order to issue an operating license, "a certificate from the competent municipal authority is required that the building is accessible to people with disabilities".
The authorisations will be for three years and will be renewed if it is established that "the terms of authorisation continue to be complied with".
Accessibility standards, as provided for in the bill, include:
> Parking for people with disabilities near the entrance of a building.
> Entrance accessible with ramp placement.
> Ensuring a smooth transition from the entrance of the building to the clinics/examination rooms.
> In cases where a lift or elevator is required for transportation, these should be accessible to people with disabilities.
> There should be accessible waiting areas.
> Accessible toilets.
> Ensuring spaces that will facilitate the evacuation of people with disabilities in case of emergency.
> Examination rooms accessible to people with disabilities.
> Lift and transport plate for transporting the disabled person to the examination bed or diagnostic bed.
> Traction hanger with handle on the examination bed.
> Examination tables and chairs with adjustable head and back support and side supports to prevent falls as well as seat belts.
> Examination chair suitable for gynaecological examination for women with disabilities.
> Wheelchair platform scales with increased weight capacity over 250 kg.
> Examination seat for ophthalmological examination with adjustable seat and sufficient space for wheelchair movement.
> Dental examination seat, adjustable with space for people in a wheelchair.
> Chairs for administering treatments (chemotherapy, serum, etc.), with adjustable seat, detachable sides and comfortable leg support.
The bill includes provisions concerning the dimensions of waiting rooms, examination rooms, corridors, etc. in any building housing a doctor or dentist or an outpatient care centre. At the same time, the minimum equipment (medical, dental and other) that each clinic or dental clinic must have in order to ensure the safety and proper service of patients are defined.
The competent authority for the granting of operating licenses but also for the control and supervision of clinics, dental clinics and outpatient care centers is the Ministry of Health, which will have inspectors for on-site visits and data recording.
The inspectors will be able to make extraordinary and scheduled visits, investigate complaints and submit recommendations and reports.
In cases where the legislation is not applied, and after a period of 30 days has elapsed since the first notification of the provider for the gaps identified, if there is non-compliance, the Ministry of Health will be able to impose an administrative fine from €2000 to €20,000 per violation recorded.
In case of systematic violation of the provisions of the law", the Ministry will have the possibility to revoke the operating license, while "a person who operates a practice or dental practice without the required by law license will be found guilty of an offence and in case of conviction will be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding €70,000 or to both penalties".
Doctors' offices, dental clinics and outpatient care centers whose health service providers are integrated into the General Health System and have a valid contract with the Health Insurance Organization, will also be obliged to comply with any criteria or Regulations applied by the HIO.
The bill on radiodiagnostic centers is also ready
A bill providing for the operation and licensing of radiodiagnostic centres in Cyprus is currently in the process of public consultation. According to the bill for the "better implementation of the law and the regulations provided, an Advisory Committee on Imaging Centers" is established, which will consist of nine members.
The bill also includes provisions concerning radiodiagnostic centers already operating in Cyprus. According to the provisions, "imaging centers that are in operation before the entry into force of the law may, on a transitional basis, continue to operate for a period of 12 months without an operating license". At the end of the 12 months, these centres will be obliged to operate in accordance with the legislation. That is, they will be obliged within six months to obtain an operating license on the basis of the conditions and criteria set by law.
As far as the minimum requirements are concerned, the bill provides that a license to operate can be obtained from centers established by a radiologist or nuclear medicine doctor or a medical company or other company. The authorisation will be valid for three years and will be renewed. The Centre must operate on the basis of all parallel legislation in force concerning safety from ionising radiation, fire safety, accessibility for people with disabilities, waste management, etc., while centres which are contracted with the Health Insurance Organisation and offer services through the General Health System must also follow the regulations issued and applied by the HIO.
