Filenews 1 March 2025
Since the beginning of my term as Minister of Health, I have set as a priority the promotion of citizens' health, the strengthening and shielding of the GHS and the support of public hospitals as an integral part of our country's health system.
Our main weapon in the effort to upgrade the health services provided and, by extension, the shielding of the General Health System, is of course the preparation and promotion of bills, something we have done since the day I took office at the Ministry of Health.
A bigger challenge, and certainly something that was not easy to manage, but I think that in the end our proposals prevailed, was the disagreement with the doctors' unions regarding financial incentives. Our proposal was accepted, but of course now we have to wait for a final agreement between the trade unions and the SHSO to be reached.
One of the targets that should have gone ahead earlier is the National Cancer Institute. In any case, however, this goal is also on the way to implementation, as in March we will announce the operating model of the Institute.
A total of 10 bills have been approved by the Council of Ministers (Patient Ombudsman, Amendment of the GHS Law, bill on Community Nursing (retabled), Recovery and Rehabilitation Centers, clinical laboratories, SHSO amending bill, university clinics, Rescuers / Ambulance Crew, bill on Breastfeeding in the workplace and bill on Disciplinary Doctors.
Bills concerning radiology and diagnostic laboratories, palliative care and the establishment of a National Ambulance Agency have also been prepared and are in the Legal Service, while bills concerning the establishment and operation of Clinics and Dental Clinics, the revision and modernization of public and private hospitals and the establishment of a National Clinical Documentation Center are under consultation.
Regarding the objectives achieved, these include, among others: the plan to cover the expenses of escorts of subsidized patients going abroad for treatment, the conclusion of agreements between Cyprus and Greece in the field of transplantation, the agreement with the University Clinic of Tubingen for the purpose of specializing doctors in hepatology, while the agreement was signed with the Cleanthus Foundation for the construction of a new Paediatric Oncology Clinic and discussions began for the creation of Immediate Medical Care Units. Finally, at European level, we tabled a proposal for the creation of a Voluntary Joint Procurement Mechanism for Medicines, which aims to enhance access and availability of innovative medicines.
EVALUATION OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
Difficult to follow, we expect readiness for conflicts
By MARILENA PANAYI
We must admit that in the last year bills have been promoted that have either been in the drawers of the Ministry of Health or have been somewhere between the Ministry, the Legal Service and the Parliament since the middle of the last decade. We must recognise this, underline it and give credit to the Minister. Quietly there at the Ministry of Health, with the direct involvement of Michalis Damianos, a very big step has been taken towards the completion of the reform, which is the big issue in the health sector.
However, from the preparation of a bill to its enactment into law, it takes time and apart from time it also takes determination from the Government in general and the competent Minister in particular.
Michael Damianos did not show us that he hesitates to clash when necessary, but he may have to prove it to us.
But we have some points to make because for many years we have been writing and rewriting about the same things. Before proceeding to the bills that presuppose conflicts, we should note the fact that while the Government promotes the creation of a Service/Body/Ministry of "Civil Protection", at the same time it is promoting a bill on ambulances. Perhaps in this case too, Michalis Damianos should clarify the scene, if not publicly, in the Council of Ministers.
The bill that will certainly cause controversy, and if we take into account what has happened in the past and strikes by public doctors, is the one concerning the operation of university clinics. The guilds are already shouting. After all, with this practice they have been managing to delay this reform for 10 years. The Minister of Health has also shown his intentions in Parliament on this issue. We expect that it will not change course.
Perhaps Michalis Damianos should clash with the guilds on other issues as well. Perhaps the solution sought by the Government for Emergency Services of different categories lies in the proper and full implementation of on-call clinics. The previous attempt to use public health centres within the framework of the GHS ran afoul of the trade unions. The simple creation of small TAEP next to the existing TAEP with additional money to doctors, as has been promoted once again in the last 10 years, is food reheated. These messages, of course, should not only reach the Ministry of Health but also the Presidential Palace.
