Mental Health Services have always been considered of secondary importance
Statement by the Health Affairs Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL
AKEL asserts the improvement of conditions for patients and health professionals in mental health services
30TH July 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
Mental Health is a social good and the access of the vulnerable social group of the mentally ill to dignified hospitalization and provision of quality services is a human right and an obligation of a Welfare State.
Mental Health Services have always been considered of secondary importance. The current Government, however, as well as the State Health Services (OKYPY), have failed to meet the expectations of citizens and have led Mental Health Services to further weakening and decay. It should be pointed out that the mental health services provided by the Republic of Cyprus to its citizens fall well below the standards of those provided by EU member states.
The closure of local community mental health clinics, the inadequacy of the infrastructures and mental health services provided, especially to severely ill patients who are hospitalised by court order for compulsory hospitalisation in the public Athalassa psychiatric hospital, must be corrected immediately. The issues related to the infrastructure of the Athalassa Psychiatric Hospital have been pending, but the government is indifferent and has not fulfilled any announcements it has made, resulting in huge problems.
AKEL has registered the problematic hospitalisation and working conditions at the Athalassa Hospital for debate in the House of Representatives and has repeatedly highlighted them. The unjustified delay in their solution by the management of OKYPY inevitably provokes militant labour mobilisations by workers in the mental health sector, starting with the Psychiatric Hospital.
AKEL is asserting the improvement of conditions for patients and health professionals in mental health, both inside and outside parliament. We are proceeding immediately to register the issue in parliament, putting forth the demand for accountability and the assumption of responsibilities by those responsible.
