Filenews 28 March 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
Everyone has their own long and short during yesterday's first debate in the Parliamentary Committee on Health of the bill that provides for the operation of Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers in Cyprus. Between those involved, despite the fact that this bill has been consulted for at least the previous four years, there is still a gap of opinion and once again, yesterday, the internal and non-GHS service provision centers, exchanged fire.
The balances throughout the session were delicate and as it became apparent, the bill will be brought to a vote in the Plenary, only if it is taken over by the Parliament, something which, as was clear yesterday from the positions of the president and the members of the competent parliamentary committee, will be done.
In his initial statement and analyzing the content of the bill (which is a different version of at least three other bills that from time to time reached the Parliament and returned to the Ministry of Health for further consultation), the Minister of Health, Michalis Damianos, stressed that "there have always been differences between those involved, mainly with regard to the transitional provisions. At the moment we have three hospitals that provide, with the hospital license they have, rehabilitation services within the GHS and we have an issue with the adequacy of beds.In this context, the transitional provisions will also allow other structures that are currently not supervised by the Ministry of Health, because in the absence of legislation they are under the "Nursing Homes Law". These structures will be licensed only if they prove that they provide rehabilitation services, have the necessary qualified personnel and the necessary level of services".
Responding to a question from MPs on whether it would be more appropriate to categorize the Centers in order to eliminate any protests, the Minister of Health replied that "this had been put to the consultation as a suggestion but then we found out that something like this could not work in practice". According to the Minister, the bill provides for the licensing and control of rehabilitation centers "which will provide services to our fellow human beings. The specifications that exist in the bill," he stressed, "are international, as the goal is to upgrade health services in our country."
The representatives of the hospital rehabilitation centers (which are already part of the GHS) expressed their disagreement with several of the provisions of the bill, making special reference to the provisions concerning the building criteria that have been included and are a prerequisite for the granting of the relevant permits.
Both sides, during the discussion, left spikes against each other, a fact that proves the climate that prevailed in the consultation that had preceded the previous months.
It is mentioned that the transitional provisions of the bill include a provision according to which all existing centers over a period of nine years will have to ensure compliance with all the criteria set out in the bill. This provision does not seem to be accepted, not even by the parties, however, its fate will be decided in the article discussion that will follow.
The adequacy of available beds seems to be interpreted differently by those involved, with the representatives of the independent structures that are waiting for the passage of the law in order to be licensed and join the GHS, stating that "while there are three centers operating within the GHS, our beds are full and the citizens pay to secure them. Consider that this situation already exists and our population is ageing, so the needs will increase."
Comments on the content of the bill were made by almost all the bodies that participated in yesterday's meeting, with the majority referring to the need to ensure the quality of the services provided.
On the part of the Health Insurance Organization, the general director of the Organization, Iphigenia Kammitsi, said that "any legislation that is passed may include specific criteria, however, the HIO has the right to define additional criteria if it wishes when concluding contracts with GHS providers".
As it turned out, all those involved have prepared lengthy notes with comments and objections on the provisions of the bill and the parliamentary committee requested that all memoranda be submitted as soon as possible so as not to delay the discussion according to the article. On several occasions and on the part of MPs, the need to ensure the quality of the rehabilitation services that will be offered to citizens was emphasized.
