AKEL continues its contacts on the National Health Scheme – What was discussed at the meeting with the Health Minister

 

6 April 2022, Cyprus News Agency

AKEL will send all its detailed proposals on the National Health Scheme (NHS) and public hospitals to the Minister of Health, Michael Hadjipandela, in the coming days, seeking their implementation.

This was agreed at the meeting between the General Secretary of AKEL Stefanos Stefanou and the Minister of Health on Wednesday, during which it was agreed to continue their contacts with the ultimate aim of developing a good cooperation to the benefit of the NHS.

In his statements after the meeting, which took place within the framework of the contacts that AKEL is currently holding with NHS stakeholders, Stefanou said that these contacts are taking place to discuss the assessments and evaluations that AKEL has made in relation to the NHS and to submit its views and proposals on how the NHS can address whatever problems it has encountered, overcome any shortcomings that exist and address abuses of the system.

According to Stefanos Stefanou, “AKEL considers the NHS a great achievement”, pointing out that his Party will continue to back the improvement of the system, as it is to the benefit of society and citizens.

The General Secretary of AKEL said the Health Ministry plays a key role in relation to the further progress of the NHS, adding that the situation in public hospitals was also discussed at the meeting.

S.Stefanou said that in AKEL’s understanding, but also in line with the philosophy, character and architecture of the NHS, “public hospitals should be the cornerstone and backbone of the YESY”.

“For that reason,” he said, “the state of public hospitals also has to do with the situation in the NHS.”

The General Secretary of AKEL also noted that “the pandemic has demonstrated the pivotal role that public hospitals play in the health system,” adding that “it is very important to help public hospitals to address any problems, but also to develop them more both in terms of human resources, infrastructures, infrastructure, new clinics and new services, so that the NHS itself can upgrade its role even more.”

“We have agreed with the Minister to be in touch. So far we have developed a very good cooperation always to the benefit of the NHS, a health system that must offer universal and quality cover to the people,” he said.

On his part, the Minister of Health expressed his thanks to all AKEL MPs for the excellent cooperation they have developed since the first day he took office.

He said that he has taken very careful note of all the proposals submitted by the General Secretary of AKEL concerning the NHS and public hospitals, stating that in the coming days all AKEL’s proposals will be sent to him in detail.

Health Minister Hadjipandelas said that in consultation with AKEL they will try to implement these suggestions, which, he added, they believe will help both the NHS and public hospitals.