Government machinations to attack the character and philosophy of the National Health Scheme (NHS)

 

Statement by AKEL Parliamentary Representative G.Loukaides after the meeting of the Parliamentary Audit Committee

17 February 2022

Last week, the Health Insurance Agency (OAY) budget was examined in the Parliamentary Health Committee. In that debate, the challenges and problems facing the NHS were raised and specific suggestions and proposals were highlighted and stressed by AKEL to address these problems, which have to do with abuses, the safeguarding of the quality of health and medical care provided to the people, with medicines, but also with the need for cover to be provided to the pensioners on low incomes and other vulnerable categories such as the chronically ill.

Today, however, what has been substantiated and formalized is the new machinations attacking the character and philosophy of the National Health Scheme (NHS). The undisguised goal of all opponents of the NHS has been, and remains, to change its philosophy and character. They failed to prevent the legislation from being passed, try as they might. They failed to keep the health providers, doctors and private hospital – that were eventually brought into the NHS – out of the NHS. They also failed in all the other machinations they had promoted.

Now, the machination on the part of the Minister of Finance is aimed at damaging the viability of the NHS, given that, as we have been informed today, the Ministry of Finance has already unilaterally proceeded to cut €103 million from the OAY’s fund, and intends to impose another €50 million in cuts.

Evidently, because the NHS was and remains viable and robust, the government ruling forces are seeking to harm and undermine the NHS’ viability and prospects through the implementation of such decisions. With unilateral decisions to cut millions of euros from the contributions that the Ministry of Finance is due by law to pay to the OAY for the benefit of the NHS, for the benefit of citizens and patients alike.

I would like to take this opportunity to denounce the government’s machinations and demand the withdrawal of its unilateral decisions.