Expenditure on health to tackle the pandemic less than half the European average
Statement by AKEL-Left-New Forces Giorgos Loucaides Parliamentary Representative
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 23rd November 2020, Nicosia
The Report published by the OECD and EU on the additional spending on health to tackle the pandemic unfortunately confirms that Cyprus ranks among the bottom places of the relevant table across Europe, with spending in actual fact below half of the European average.
It is therefore not coincidental that Cyprus was unprepared for the expected second phase of the pandemic. The underfunding of the public health sector for many years has unfortunately continued during the pandemic too and has resulted in deficiencies in infrastructures, equipment and staffing, especially in crucial areas for addressing the pandemic. To these must be added the erroneous and lack of effective planning and the failures in the measures taken by the Anastasiades-DISY government.
AKEL calls on the government to assume its responsibilities and make use of the comprehensive proposals that we as a Party have submitted in good time, while at the same time declaring our readiness to continue contributing towards tackling the pandemic within our possibilities, in whatever way requested from us.
