Filenews 6 August 2025 - by Marilena Panagi
The Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society, which has already proceeded with its study for the construction of a new palliative care center, is attempting to put an end to the distances and an end to the suffering of cancer patients, their families, and their doctors, which has already proceeded with its study for the construction of a new palliative care center, following the model of the "Arodafnousa" Center that has been operating for 50 years in Nicosia.
The Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society, as its executive director, Maria Ioannidou, told "F", aims to operate a new centre in Limassol, in the west of the city, in order to facilitate cancer patients in the Paphos district, near the motorway that connects the two provinces, with the aim of covering the needs of patients in the best possible way. of the families and the health professionals who monitor them.
"The city and district of Limassol are experiencing impressive growth in general, but also impressive growth in health services, especially oncology. From the experience of the association with the operation of "Arodafnousa" but also from contacts and discussions we had with important stakeholders, we have found that the absence of a palliative care hostel in Limassol is a gap, which afflicts patients and their families and complicates the work of the health professionals who take care of them".
With today's data, Maria Ioannidou explained, "inpatient hospitalization in a hospital or oncology center is of limited duration". At the same time, "with the passage of the bill aimed at regulating the operation of palliative care centers, it is foreseen that in-hospital palliative care units will be created and that these will be financed by the GHS."
Of course, these will not only concern cancer but also neurological, cardiac and other diseases. "In any case, a hospital or an oncology center is not the right environment for patients who need support, care and empowerment after a treatment program or an interim hospitalization or temporary care or management of the complex problems of those who have exhausted their treatment options."
Already, the "Evagorio" Palliative Care Center is operating, "which is the basis for the services of the association in the district of Limassol, providing a range of services, Until recently, these services included day care services".
However, as it is established, with the new data in the health sector and the significant development of oncology services in Limassol, "the needs of patients, in day care, are now satisfied by the city's hospitals". At the same time, "home care services, although they offer valuable services, are not adequate and comprehensive in all cases."
Many times, "treating health professionals and patients' families resort to emergency solutions, such as rehabilitation centers or nursing homes, which clearly do not meet the real needs of integrated patient care while not even covering the needs of families."
Limassol, said Mrs. Ioannidou, "needs a palliative care shelter that is consistent with and responds to the current level of oncology services and has the prospect not only to monitor, but also to contribute to the developments of the coming decades."
"Like the "Arodafnousa" palliative care centre, in Nicosia, the proposed palliative care hostel will provide services by a multidisciplinary team of specialized health professionals to cancer patients, with the aim of providing personalised care, relieving organic symptoms and managing other needs, such as psychological, social and spiritual and supporting the relief of their caregivers/families".
It is a given that for the operation of the guesthouse, "the experience from the radical renovation, expansion and upgrade of "Arodafnousa" will be utilized, as well as the modern perceptions of such projects, both in terms of the location, architectural design and aesthetics of the guesthouse, as well as the organization and staffing of the center.
The figures prove the need but also the gap that exists today
The European Association for Palliative Care recommends 80-100 palliative care beds per million population, with 60% of these beds, i.e. 48-60, being reserved for cancer patients.
Based on these recommendations and given the fact that 28% of the population of Cyprus resides in the Limassol district and 11% in the Paphos district, "we conclude that Limassol needs 13 to 17 palliative care beds and Paphos 5 to 7".
This means in simple words that "we need another "Arodaphnousa", approximately, in order to be able to meet the real needs of our patients. The life horizon of the project is determined in decades. "Arodafnousa" is already celebrating 50 years in the service of society. For this, the plot of land and the design will provide the possibility for future expansion."
As for the specifications and the range of services that the proposed hostel will provide, "it should meet the requirements and specifications included in the bill that regulates the provision of palliative care and is being put to a vote". That is, "the shelter will be submitted and approved based on the provisions of the promoted law on palliative care and will be included in the GHS. Its direct operating costs are expected to be covered through claims for reimbursement of palliative care services by the Health Insurance Organization". Given that "the proposed guesthouse will have a similar size to "Arodafnousa", its direct operating costs, in full development, are estimated to be at the same amount, approximately, i.e. close to €3.5 million per year, based on today's data".
At an advanced stage, consultations and procedures
"The hostel will be designed to meet the needs of the Limassol district and depending on the evolution of services and needs, it will have the ability to expand. That is why it is proposed that its location be such that it offers easy access to the motorway to Paphos".
The second criterion is its location "away from urban nuisance and traffic congestion, in a quiet area and close to the natural environment".
"The Association seeks a long-term lease of a state plot in the community of Sotiras Limassol and for this purpose is in consultations with the Ministry of the Interior, the Land Registry, the Urban Planning Authority, the Department of the Environment and the Municipality of Kouri".
Regarding funding, "the Association is in advanced consultations with a significant potential donor, who has already expressed an initial interest in financing all or part of the capital expenditure. The finalization of the grant depends on the completion of the design, the securing of a suitable location and the relevant permits."
The budget of the project "will be prepared in a later phase and will depend on many parameters such as the final size, the range of services that will be integrated, the size and morphology of the plot on which it will be erected, the required infrastructure projects and possibly the available funding".
