The Anastasiades-DISY government does not consider Health care as a public good and a fundamental right

 

Statement by AKEL MP Marina Nicolaou following the examination of the Health Ministry Budget for 2022 In the Parliamentary Finance Committee

1 November 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

In the midst of a pandemic, with public hospitals criminally neglected, their staff professionally exhausted and patients facing conditions that do not befit a modern state, the Nicos Anastasiades-DISY government has presented yet another state budget with cuts in the funding of developmental spending on public health.

At this point, we again express our sincere gratitude to all health workers who have been on the front line from the very first moment.

It is clear that the Nicos Anastasiades – DISY government does not consider health as a public good and a fundamental right. We only need to recall that five years ago it pledged to take concrete steps to strengthen and modernise public hospitals so that they can become the backbone of health services within the4 framework of the National Health Service. Five years later, little has been done. Staffing and the modernization of public hospitals have not progressed.  There are serious shortages recorded in infrastructures, beds, equipment, consumables and medicines.

In the face of this tragic situation, the competent Minister and the state health services (OKYPY) are engaged a blame game.

AKEL will continue, both inside and outside of Parliament, to fight for the inalienable and sacred right of all people to quality and public health care.

We urge the Ministry, OKYPY, together with the Health Insurance Organisation (OAY) and the other agencies, to study seriously the existing problems and promote their solution immediately – before it is too late for the public health system.