Filenews 15 June 2025
There are certainly problems in the GHS, including some abuses, which the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) is slowly solving, Health Minister Michalis Damianos said on Sunday, adding that the GHS will not collapse.
In his statements after the memorial service of the heroes of the Virgin Mary, which was held in the community, Mr. Damianos said that the GHS is the greatest achievement, especially in the field of health of the Cypriot people. It's a six-year-old health system with various problems, which were normal to arise, he said.
He pointed out, however, that according to international studies, the GHS will not collapse, adding that its overall budget guarantees its survival.
There are certainly problems, he continued, "including some abuses that the Health Insurance Organization is slowly trying to resolve and is resolving both in technical ways and in others."
Mr. Damianos then referred to the last few months and to various publications and expulsions from the system of health professionals, as well as various fines, for the bad use of this system and expressed the position that "there is certainly a lot to be done, certainly a lot will be done".
On the part of the state, he said, the Clinical Documentation Center is progressing, which will be "the greatest achievement of the Republic of Cyprus after the GHS". As he said, there will be various protocols that will have to be followed by health professionals themselves and the Health Insurance Organization will be able to control any abuses.
"We believe that the GHS can and will do better, and the goal of the state and the Health Insurance Organization must be, where there are problems, to be able to solve them in a short period of time."
Asked if he believes that unaccountability will be stopped with these measures, Mr. Damianos replied that the safety valves must always be in place. "They will be upgraded and where there are problems, they must be solved," he added and said that the Organization must be flexible towards solving these problems.
He said that in other countries health systems are often upgraded and differentiated, adding that in Cyprus "as soon as we stick to the same philosophy and the same architecture, we must solve these problems". At the same time, he expressed his optimism that problems can be solved "as long as we are vigilant".
Asked about issues that arise in the local medical center of Panagia, but also in other rural areas, the Minister of Health said that where the demands are fair, it is something that they are also examining with the OCYPY itself, which is responsible for primary health, and with the Ambulance Service, which is currently in the OCYPY, so that the problems are solved.
The issue is broader, he continued, because these problems must be solved at the government level with the OCYPY that manages public hospitals and public health in general. Therefore, studies are being carried out and where there are fair demands, we proceed towards a solution, he added.
Asked whether Cyprus is ready to provide humanitarian aid to the Middle East, Mr. Damianou said that "we are ready, there is a specific plan and a specific plan" in the part concerning the Ministry of Health.
He said that measures are being taken while he mentioned that all the services of the Ministries are on alert.
CNA
