Public hospitals are barely hanging on… – Article by Giorgos T. Georgiou, District Secretary of AKEL Limassol

 

For the National Health System (NHS) to function without problems, AKEL has been stressing for years that a high degree of readiness on the part of public hospitals is demanded. However, two and a half years after their autonomy, we are witnessing on a daily basis the serious problems public hospitals face.

Although public hospitals have borne the full brunt and burden of the coronavirus pandemic, they have been left without the necessary support. The problems are many and affect the whole spectrum of their operation.

The staffing of medical and paramedical personnel and nurses is inadequate. The daily needs for consumables aren’t being covered. The shortage of equipment with modern machinery and technology makes it impossible for the provision of high levels of medical service to citizens. The situation in the Emergency First Aid Centres, in the Intensive Care Units for Newborns at the Makarios Hospital and the Limassol General Hospital and in the Blood Transfusion Dialysis Units has reached unacceptable levels. There are Regional Medical Centres that are suffocating, in Avdimou they are still waiting for a doctor, and the Ambulance Units are holding on in their operation by tooth and nail. The planned extensions of public hospitals are on hold, the Limassol Hospital has been waiting decades, with the result that medicine is being practised in the corridors. Recently C. Karotsakis, one of the executives of the state health services (OKYPY), in his statements, was quite revealing, but also expressed indignation about the state of public hospitals.

The neoliberal policies pursued by the Anastasiades – DISY government, namely those promoting “less state”, have left the public hospitals in limbo. The policies of austerity and cuts (in excess of €500 million) have depleted our hospitals. EU statistics speak for themselves: public health expenditure is, on average, 7% in the EU, while in Cyprus it is around 3%!! The “success story” of those in power in the economy is becoming a daily nightmare for patients and our people.

The government bears the sole and full responsibility of course together with its pillars and especially OKYPY. On this matter too, the government has behaved very recklessly in its handlings regarding the administration of this agency.

The recent meeting at the Presidential Palace does not raise high expectations, because the government is itself the cause of the problem.

By the way, where did the EUR 100 million promised after the first wave of Covid-19 go?

What investments have the government ruling forces made in the health sector?

What schemes and plan do they have?

All we hear are pledges and a lot of commitments that are not being fulfilled! The results are tragic, since instead of modernisation, government inertia and incompetence have led public hospitals to setbacks and on the brink of collapse.

Now is the time for an Action Plan, a comprehensive plan is needed, together with a vision for a Public Health system.

AKEL, placing the issue of people’s health high among its priorities, will continue to act by elaborating and submitting its own vision, ideas and proposals for a strong Public Health system.