THE HIO TURNS TO GREECE FOR EMERGENCIES - WHAT ARE THE ARRANGEMENTS? - Filenews 5/3 by Marilena Panayi
Israel has been put out of the plan regarding the sending of patients from Cyprus with the Health Insurance Organization turning, at least for the next period, to Greece for emergencies.
As the director of the Organization, Monica Kyriakou, told "F", "usually emergencies, due to distance, are referred to Israel, however, with the current situation this is impossible and therefore the HIO "must turn to an alternative plan".
Greece, he said, "is the next closest destination in case the need arises and a patient needs to be urgently referred for treatment abroad", he added and explained that "the needs of patients can be covered by hospitals in other countries, but in any case, Israel is the closest destination when we are talking about very urgent cases".
Currently, according to HIO data, dozens of patients are abroad: "We have registered 81 patients along with their companions. Of course, we must clarify that some of them may have returned to Cyprus and we did not have time to be informed."
The patients are in hospitals in Greece, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Israel, "A country from which of course efforts are now being made to repatriate some who have expressed the desire to return to Cyprus".
Regarding the patients who are in Israel, Ms. Kyriakou said that there are eight "and with them, of course, are their escorts".
"Two families (two patients with their companions) expressed their desire to return to Cyprus and that is why we proceeded with all the necessary procedures through the Embassy of Cyprus in Israel for their repatriation."
This, possibly, as far as one family is concerned, will become possible today since yesterday the Israeli authorities did not give the necessary permission for their departure from the country, while at the same time the procedures for the second family have been promoted.
The HIO, Ms. Kyriakou concluded, "is in constant contact with the hospitals, monitors the situation and the necessary arrangements are certainly being made in order to serve our patients safely. We are in consultation with hospitals with which we cooperate in Greece and other countries so that the procedures can be initiated without delay when the need arises."
