Letter from the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL to the President of the Republic requesting a meeting on Public Health and the National Health Scheme (GESY)

 

21 November 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, today sent a letter to the President of the Republic asking for the arrangement of a meeting on Public Health and the National Health Scheme (GESY).

In his letter, S.Stefanou expresses the Party’s strong concern about developments in the public health sector, calling for the drafting of a comprehensive plan for the protection of public health and the immediate intervention of the President of the Republic so that the Ministry of Health and the State Health Services (OKYPY) proceed to the implementation of measures providing substantial support and the upgrading and development of Public Hospitals. AKEL’s proposals are included in the letter towards this end.

Finally, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party expressed AKEL’s readiness to support any effort that will ensure equality in access to a high level of health services for all citizens, setting out specific proposals in this direction.

The letter is reproduced in full:

“With this letter I wish to express AKEL’s strong concern about developments in the public health sector.

On the one hand, hedge funds are aggressively intervening by buying up hospitals, laboratories and imaging centres, gradually defining the map and policy in the public health system.

On the other hand, various decisions taken by the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) and the State Health Services (OKYPY) accumulate problems that directly threaten the survival of public hospitals.

In view of these negative developments, it is imperative that the Government and the Ministry of Health immediately draw up a comprehensive plan and policy to protect public health and ensure the sustainability and quality of services provided under the GESY.

AKEL considers that your immediate political intervention is needed so that the Ministry of Health and the OKYPY proceed with measures to substantially support, upgrade and develop public hospitals.

If the Government’s objective remains equal, universal and non-discriminatory access to quality healthcare for all beneficiaries, then it must act without any further delay.

To this end, we propose the following measures:

1. Extend the period of financial support allocated for public hospitals, at least for as long as the pandemic lasted.
2. Elaboration of a central capacity planning on the basis of which the health sector should develop. In addition, the OKYPY should submit the roadmap of its strategic planning to Parliament for transparency purposes and debate.
3. Staffing of hospitals through agreed structures on the basis of a central plan and the development of services.
4. Increase the budget for critical areas, for example, such as the Mental Health sector.

In relation to the OKYPY, the government should as a priority act to:

1. Agree on collective labour agreements for health professionals and workers with the OKYPY.
2. Overall improvement of the position of health professionals and workers in the field, from a scientific and professional point of view.
3. Ending the unacceptable practice of employing retired health professionals and purchase of services system.
4. Taking corrective measures in the model of operation of the OKYPY. Promote legislation to correct the distortions. A start can be made by changing the composition of the Board of Directors of the OKYPY and enhancing the qualifications of its members.

Mr. President,

The defence of the character and philosophy of the GESY, the effort for corrections and improvements and the demand for the support and upgrading of public hospitals are issues of major importance which are among AKEL’s priorities.

It goes without saying that we are always ready to support any effort within the correct framework, i.e. for equality of access to a high level of health services for all citizens.

This, however, presupposes political will on the part of the Government to act immediately in order to prevent developments that will have disastrous consequences for public health and, by extension, the vast majority of Cypriot society. Coordination between the competent Ministries and services is also essential, as well as the allocation of the necessary funds for the implementation of policies that strengthen and upgrade public health. In this regard, I note the statements made by the Minister of Health, Mrs. Kanari, in which she referred to the Minister of Finance on health expenditure.

For the discussion of the issue surrounding public health and the GESY, I request that a meeting of AKEL be arranged with you.”

21.11.2023