Hospitals must be supported immediately with human resources

Statement by the AKEL Nicosia – Kyrenia District Secretary and MP Christos Christofides

 

6 August 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The situation in our hospitals, and especially in the intensive care units, is particularly difficult. We are witnessing a serious health crisis as a result of the outbreak of the pandemic. What is paramount right now is that the Ministry of Health provides the necessary resources to enable our hospitals to function effectively. What is needed right now is for human resources, in doctors, nurses and other support staff to be strengthened.

When we discuss the need for additional beds in intensive care units or the operation of additional floors in the Famagusta reference hospital, the prerequisite for all this to work efficiently is that the corresponding human resources must be available. Unfortunately, the protagonists of this battle with the pandemic, our medical staff, know that at the moment we do not have the required number of staff, health workers.

The Ministry of Health is therefore called upon to reply to the following:

● Is it happy with the state and image of the public hospitals?

● Is it satisfied with the management of Public Hospitals?

● Why are we, a year and a half after the outbreak of the pandemic in Cyprus, still discussing the need for more beds in intensive care units and hospitals and for the necessary staff to support them.

● Why is it that instead of a real increase in the number of beds being recorded, other hospital departments are being closed to be used in the fight against COVID-19? This creates serious dangers for other patients such as cancer patients, patients who need surgery immediately and other categories of patients.

● The Ministry of Health is called upon to give an answer as to why it has not made use of AKEL’s proposals and suggestions, as well as those of other political forces and organised bodies, to tackle the pandemic.

The Ministry of Health should acknowledge the responsible manner with which AKEL has so far dealt with the handlings made of the pandemic. At the same time, it must recognise that we are going through a serious crisis, presenting serious weaknesses and shortcomings in confronting it, and it is our obligation and responsibility towards citizens to point out the problems and demand solutions – especially if human lives depend on it.