Filenews 19 September 2024
Two agreements in the field of transplantation and in the field of cross-kidney transplantation were signed today by the Cypriot Minister of Health, Michalis Damianos, with his Greek counterpart, Adonis Georgiades. Also present at the signing of the Cooperation Agreements were the Greek Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistocleous and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health of Cyprus Christina Giannaki.
After the signing of the agreements, Mr. Damianos noted that "the signing of these agreements confirms the commitment of our governments to universal and equitable health care, ensuring that no citizen, regardless of the rarity of their case, will be left without the necessary care."
For us, he continued, the right to health is non-negotiable. "After all, transplants are not only about saving lives, but also about improving patients' quality of life. The first agreement we are signing today concerns cross-kidney transplants," he said.
At the same time, he stressed that "this agreement is expected to significantly increase treatment options for patients suffering from renal failure, allowing the exchange of organs between the two countries in cases of incompatibility between donor and recipient."
"If a donor in Cyprus or Greece is not compatible with his recipient, it will now be possible to exchange kidneys with a corresponding couple from the other country, thus increasing the chances of a successful transplant," he added.
Mr. Damianos went on to say that "the second agreement concerns lung transplants. As part of this agreement, Cypriot patients will be able to undergo lung transplantation at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, which has the necessary expertise and infrastructure."
In addition, he said, "the agreement provides for the possibility of donating organs from Cyprus to the Hellenic Transplant Organization, when they cannot be used in our country."
"In this way, we ensure better management of available organs and faster response to patient needs in both countries."
"Through this partnership, it proves once again that we can achieve much more for the common good of our citizens. We continue to work with dedication to establish further partnerships, which will enhance the quality of public health," he concluded.
For his part, Georgiades noted that "this agreement can be the beginning of many agreements."
"We always support the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus," he said, sending the message "to all our Cypriot compatriots that Greece is here to help in any difficult moment and anyone in need."
In his own statements, Mr. Themistocleous pointed out that these agreements are "practical proof of the very close cooperation that has existed for years but we are trying to evolve between Greece and Cyprus."
''he transplant sector is one of the most important sectors that can save patients' lives and drastically improve their quality of life," he said.
He added that "for years we have been working towards exploiting the full potential of science in this field. The results are beginning to show and our country is constantly upgrading in the field of transplants."
"The goal of this initiative is to help as many patients as we can from both states," he said.
