Cyprus is bottom in the EU table with regards public spending on social protection and health

Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 23rd March 2016, Nicosia

 

Neither statistical figures, nor society are prospering – except of course if the Government, apart from AKEL, also questions the figures released by the European Statistical Service “Eurostat”.

Cyprus is bottom in the EU table with regards public spending on social protection, bottom in public expenditure on health as well. Expenditure on social protection in Cyprus amounts to 25% of public expenditure in comparison to 40.4% in EU countries. Cyprus has the lowest expenditure for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Unfortunately, only the privileged few are reaping the benefits of the government’s “success story”, since no one else seems to be doing so. Families who work hard and can’t make ends meet and cope are not the exception but the rule, since the salary, if any, just about lasts until the middle of the month. The biggest fear people have is that there will be extra costs because if there are people won’t be able to pay them.

The time has come to replace the fear and insecurity with hope, confidence and dignity.