For the first time in 30 years, cancer and not cardiovascular disease is the first and most common cause of death in the Republic of Cyprus, according to the findings of the 12th Pancyprian Public Health Conference, which was organized on Tuesday by the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII). The conference was held under the auspices of the Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambidis, who addressed a greeting.
According to an announcement by the CII, "for the first time in 30 years, cancer and not cardiovascular diseases is the first and most common cause of death in the Republic of Cyprus. It is a serious reason for the intensification of cancer prevention actions in the Cypriot population, starting from childhood", it is emphasized.
"Greater financial investment is required in the prevention of diseases since spending on prevention issues in Cyprus remains significantly lower, about 2%, compared to 4% of the European average," it is noted.
"Prevention must start from childhood, with a substantial upgrade of the role of schools and nurseries in promoting healthy behaviours," it adds.
It is also emphasized that "the prevention of diseases and the promotion of health must be a central priority of the State, and must be substantially integrated not only in health policies, but also in social welfare, education, environment and climate policies".
"The concept of prevention is not limited to the boundaries of the hospital, but extends to every Municipality and Community of Cyprus. More than 80% of health-influencing factors are linked to factors that act outside the health system, such as lifestyle, socio-economic profile, environment, diet, physical activity and smoking, etc.", the announcement states.
"Observatories of diseases and risk factors at the population level with repeated assessments are needed. These will collect reliable data and produce measurable health indicators. These health indicators will inform the design of actions and interventions to reduce the health risk of the population", it is pointed out.
"Socio-economic inequalities are reflected in the health of the population, making it necessary to adopt policies that ensure equal access to prevention actions and health services," it is underlined.
"A necessary condition for prevention is the systematic cross-sectoral cooperation between Ministries, local government, schools, the academic community, research institutions and civil society, beyond their simple participation in joint committees," it states.
At the center of the discussion was the wider cultivation of culture in society, from childhood. The need for synergy between schools, sports, primary care, local government and other bodies was emphasized, as well as to ensure equal access to health services for all citizens.
Particular reference was made to the need to strengthen investments in prevention. It was pointed out that in Cyprus only about 2% of the annual health budget is spent on prevention issues, compared to about 4% on average in Europe.
In her greeting, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Savia Orfanidou, stated that the issue of increasing spending on prevention will be examined in the context of the work of the Parliamentary Committee on Health. At the same time, he highlighted the importance of promoting sports and healthy nutrition in schools.
In his address, Dr. Pavlos Drakos stressed the need to strengthen actions for cancer prevention, pointing out that a significant increase in new cancer cases is expected in the coming years. He placed particular emphasis on tackling smoking and the strict implementation of the anti-smoking law in places such as schools, parks and sports facilities.
For his part, Dr. Nicos Middleton referred to the need to redefine the concept of prevention, to move from a purely biomedical model to a more behavioral and social model, and to use research to select, adapt and evaluate effective interventions. He stressed that the practices applied internationally can be used in Cyprus, but should be adapted to the particularities of the Cypriot reality.
Dr. Konstantinos Pattihis highlighted the role of the new electronic health record as an important tool for the utilization and interconnection of health data, with the aim of better providing services and supporting informed decision-making.
In his address, Dr. Agis Tsouros referred to the need to redefine the concept of disease prevention and adopt modern strategies to deal with chronic diseases. Dr. Tsouros emphasized that health is greatly influenced by factors that are outside the traditional health system. He placed particular emphasis on social determinants of health and inequalities.
