We seek a substainable Health System
Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 15th May 2014, Nicosia
AKEL had repeatedly warned that the government is seeking to sell off the health sector to a handful of private interests. It is trying to interfere with and change the content of the General Health Scheme (GHS). Towards this end, it is unilaterally and arbitrarily attempting to isolate and remove the Health Insurance Organization from the planning and implementation of the GHS.
In a statement issued on 05.09.2014, the Ministry of Health attempted to refute AKEL, workers’ trade unions and other political and social agencies who have expressed their concern and are warning about the fate of health and the GHS. It also stated that “various information which has recently been published have nothing to do with reality.” Furthermore, the Minister of Health noted that “the implementation of the GHS will be based on existing plans, as these have been determined by all the partners” and that “the allegations that the meetings to take decisions are being held ’behind closed doors’ are not true.”
Their denials were once again immediately refuted. It seems that the distortion of truth is on this government’s agenda. It appears that precisely behind closed doors, on the pretext of the Troika and invoking the Memorandum as a last resort, they have developed their strategy for selling-off Health to a few large private interests.
It is by no means accidental and innocent the statement that “the Government is exploring the potential application of an open health system at a later stage…with the involvement of other insurance agencies as well, if it is judged that it would bring additional benefits to Cypriot citizens” is by no means innocent or accidental at all.
The on-going developments surrounding the GHS unfortunately confirm that:
■ – The Anastasiades Government and Democratic Rally party are arbitrarily and unilaterally attempting to breakdown the planning for the GHS that had been agreed some time ago.
■ – The Government of the DISY party are once again seeking to serve a handful of big private capital interests who are behind the insurance companies to the detriment of people’s and citizen’s interests.
■ – Regretfully this confirms the Government’s attempt to reverse the philosophy of the GHS based on social solidarity, in order to transform it into a multi-level Health Scheme, resulting in this valuable social right of health from belonging to all becoming a privilege reserved for a small minority and “select few”.
The government’s arguments against the existing planning by questioning the GHS’s sustainability are nothing but lame excuses! On the contrary, the government and ruling forces know very well that multi-insurance systems cost up to 35% more than the single healthcare systems, which for Cyprus would mean approximately €300 million in additional annual costs.
