An important step in reducing the inconvenience caused to oncology patients and doctors by the process of nominal requests seems to be the major revision of the treatment protocols of the GHS.
A total of 90 treatments or combinations of treatments were evaluated in the context of the creation or update of 17 oncology protocols, with the evaluation process at the SEF level having been completed for all of them.
Most of the treatments have already been included in the GHS list and therefore no longer need to be secured through the separate process of nominal requests. For a small number of treatments, the scientific evaluation has been completed, but negotiations are pending before they can be included in the list.
The effect of the change is already starting to be reflected in the numbers. The Cyprus Society of Oncology announced that in the second quarter of 2025, a decrease in nominal requests of 23.4% was recorded compared to the first quarter, while, as it states, waiting times have been significantly reduced and treating doctors, and by extension patients, are now informed in a short period of time about the outcome of their requests.
From the breast to the pancreas
The 17 protocols cover a wide range of malignancies. They concern breast, ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer, lung, stomach, esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer, pancreas and biliary cancer, hepatocellular cancer, colon cancer, prostate, urothelial cancer and kidney cancer, as well as melanoma, neuroendocrine tumours, non-melanocytic skin cancers and soft tissue sarcomas.
As part of this procedure, the treatment options included in the protocols for these cancers were reviewed and through this process, the 90 treatments and combinations of treatments were evaluated.
For the vast majority, the process has now progressed until inclusion in the GHS list. This means that, once the criteria laid down in the respective protocol are met, access to treatment is no longer dependent on the examination of a separate nominal request but on other procedures that are much less time-consuming.
Four categories with pending issues
However, the whole circle has not been closed. For some of the treatments that have already been evaluated, the negotiation process is still pending before their final inclusion in the list.
The pending issues concern treatments for colon cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer and urothelial cancer.
"Coordinated actions have paid off"
The Cyprus Oncology Society, in a statement returning to the issue of nominal requests, speaks of a positive development and attributes the result to the coordinated actions of itself and the HIO.
As he states, the completion of the update and revision of the treatment protocols in Oncology has now been smoothed out, within the stipulated schedules. At the same time, it highlights both the 23.4% reduction in nominal requests and the significant reduction in waiting times.
The OEK thanks its oncologists-members and the HIO for their contribution to achieving the goals set in June 2025. T
At the same time, it clarifies that it believes that the effort does not end here: it states that it will continue to seek the establishment of a regular, annual review of the protocols, with the aim of further upgrading oncology services.
