Filenews 28 June 2025 - by Marilena Panagi
We need university hospitals and they will be done as they should, the Minister of Health announced. There should be no Trade union issues, he says, and calls on the parties to rise to the occasion. Mr. Michalis Damianos took a clear position on "F" on various important issues concerning the Ministry of Health.
He explains the reason why the Government is promoting two parallel and perhaps conflicting procedures for the future of ambulances in Cyprus and stresses that there should be no reaction from the OCYPY.
He argues that the reform that accompanies the National Center for Clinical Documentation will revolutionize the health sector. Home care is not yet in the Government's plans, beyond the bill that was passed into law on Thursday, while for the A&E he reveals that his Ministry is also receiving complaints from citizens about delays and incomplete services from the private sector.
There is time for the production of work, until the end of the year, "before the parties enter the pre-election period in view of parliamentary elections", he says and analyzes what has been promoted, what is being promoted and what is still in the drawers.
University clinics: "Let's catch up before the parties enter an election period"
"At the moment we have three medical schools but not legally regulated university clinics. That in itself, I think, demonstrates the urgency of the matter. The most important thing is to start the debate on the extremely important bill that is in Parliament as soon as possible. If its debate begins in September, we will have four months at our disposal before the election period for the parliamentary elections begins. In these four months, I believe that we will have the opportunity to reassure most of the concerns, because there are still objections despite the fact that this issue has been under consultation for a decade. I believe that apart from some corporate issues that will probably be raised once again, everything else, that is, the essential part, we have defined it in a way that balances the situation. But since there are some purely trade union issues that will probably be raised, we expect that we will have the support of the parties to overcome all obstacles."
Asked whether there is any intention on the part of the Ministry to satisfy some demands, Michalis Damianos said: "We are conciliatory on issues that are logical, which do not affect the philosophy of the bill. Regarding the trade unions, I would like to reiterate that the bill provides for both the promotion positions of doctors and their promotion. I believe that there should be no reaction to these issues. Apart from these issues, I don't see any reason for there to be reactions or objections to anything else."
Ambulances: "The major project promoted by the Government still needs time"
Asked why a bill is being promoted that provides for the return of ambulances to the Ministry of Health, at a time when the Government has already completed its planning for the operation of a crisis management body in which, among other things, ambulances will be included, the Minister of Health replied:
"It takes time and planning to transfer all those services that are currently integrated into different Ministries, to any crisis management body. So we, as a Ministry, must do something about this issue. With the transfer of the ambulance service from the OCYPY to the Ministry of Health, we are ensuring that, as is applied in most other states, emergencies, serious cases and incidents will be under the responsibility of the state. Therefore, ambulances of the ambulance service will focus on these incidents. They will be freed from the various other incidents involving simple transfers to the various hospitals and thus we will reduce their response time. At the same time, private ambulances will be integrated into the entire system. They will take care of those simple transfers. Then the ambulance service will be transferred to the crisis management body".
Asked whether the OCYPY will accept the transfer of the ambulance service to the Ministry, given the fact that this service adds significant amounts to its revenues, Michalis Damianos pointed out that "just like all other hospitals will be able to have a fleet for simple transport, so will the public hospitals. I believe that there should be no problem on the part of the OCYPY".
It is recalled that the ambulance service had been transferred "temporarily" in 2019 from the Ministry to the OCYPY since, as the then Government had committed, an independent ambulance authority would operate.
Complaints about private A&E
Complaints about incomplete services and the lack of infrastructure or medical specialties in the Accident and Emergency Departments of private hospitals operating within the General Health System also reach the Ministry of Health, the Minister revealed, saying that "we are in contact with both the hospitals and the Health Insurance Organization to see what corrective actions could be done. Of course, just a month ago, the HIO has begun to apply quality criteria to the A&E Departments and among the criteria is the mandatory presence of doctors of various specialties in these Departments".
Law on Community Nursing – "To be implemented and then to see the gaps"
The development of a state service (which will not be limited to the OCYPY) which will provide home care to patients who face difficulty in their movements, is not currently in the Government's plans. The Minister of Health, however, indicates the passage of the relevant Law and that we must "wait first for the practical implementation and then record gaps and needs".
"The Ministry has prepared a bill, which was voted on Thursday by the Plenary Session of the Parliament, which provides for the operation of community nursing providers, defines criteria, conditions, services, etc. At the moment, nothing else is in the planning. The Law should be implemented and from then on we will see if there is a gap and we will certainly look for ways to meet the needs.
An evaluation of the doctors is coming and Scientifically Documented Quality of Health
The operation of the National Center for Clinical Documentation is the second largest reform in the health sector after the GHS. "Suffice it to say that through its operation, the provision of scientifically documented quality health services to citizens is ensured. We will have the protocols on the basis of which everyone will operate, as well as a mechanism for evaluating the implementation of these protocols."
"But we must emphasize something," the Minister said: "The Center operates according to the desire and cooperation and demand of both doctors and patients. That alone says a lot."
He continued by explaining that the ECHR will also deal with the pharmaceutical protocols with the transfer of the Medicines Advisory Committee from the HIO to the Center.
"The SEF is the scientific body that prepares the pharmaceutical protocols. These protocols, however, must be applied in general, not only through the GHS. The HIO will be extricated from this process".
