Filenews 31 December 2024
The results of the year that is leaving, in the field of Health, may not be visible, but enough of what should have been promoted several years ago has been done. On the other hand, of course, the pending issues are still many, while a huge "minus" for the state must be the lack of services for the care of people, especially the elderly, who, although they do not need hospitalization, still need nursing, medical and other support.
Among the big pluses of the year, the completion of a series of bills which, when passed into law, will help complete the reform in the health sector and will greatly strengthen the GHS. Some of the bills have been submitted to Parliament, some are in the Legal Service and some in the public consultation. The big question is, of course, their passage by Parliament.
On the plus side, the promotion of the procedures for the operation of the National Clinical Documentation Centre, which paves the way for proper control and evaluation of the services received by Cypriot patients.
On the plus side, the conclusion of a collective agreement between the employees of public hospitals and the Cyprus Health Organization. Not that after that state hospitals will stop operating under the threat of strikes, but this is a positive development.
On the plus side, the transfer of specialized medicines from the Ministry of Health to the HIO. Let us hope that the Agency will be able to serve patients properly, without abuse but also without depriving anyone who really needs it of the medicines they need.
On the plus side, the common, now voice of patients and doctors. OSAC and PIS, after several years of disagreement, mainly due to the GHS, are now fighting together on specific issues.
On the plus side is Cyprus' proposal to the EU for cheaper new medicines. Let us hope that our partners will adopt it.
On the minuses, many and various. The continuous financial demands of public doctors who also closed hospitals for two days, the flooded medicine warehouses, the non-promotion of all procedures for the integration of patient sending services abroad into the GHS (expected in the coming months), the horizontal restrictions on the System that inconvenience patients and doctors, the non-promotion of the operation of an independent ambulance Authority or an independent Crisis Management Agency and much more.
It is a shame for the State that it is another year and Cyprus has not taken care of people in need of care in their homes. For decades, we have limited ourselves to an allowance policy that is far removed from the real needs of patients, especially the elderly.
The fragmented provision of services by nurses, physiotherapists, doctors, etc., with severe restrictions through the GHS, does not solve the problem. Subsidising accommodation in long-term care centres or nursing homes is not a solution either.
Everyone has the right to receive what they need by staying at home with their loved ones, without questioning their dignity. My message to the President of the Republic, the Minister of Health and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare: Take care in 2025 to look at people and especially the elderly who need care, health and not only, in their homes.
