The political responsibilities for the shrinking of the public health sector are grave
30 April 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
With regards Parliament’s approval of the government bill to extend the possibility of providing state support to the public health sector for one year, AKEL points out the following:
- The extension of state support should have covered both the two years of the pandemic, especially given that the legislation passed provides for potential and not compulsory state support in relation to the deficits of the Public Health Service. All the more so as the responsibility for political scrutiny and oversight rests with the government itself and the Ministry of Health in particular, and therefore it is their responsibility, if they consider it feasible, to ensure that no more than one year of state support will be needed.
- In addition to the objective reasons relating to the pandemic, the debate in the House of Representatives highlighted the grave responsibilities of the previous government, and the current one too, with regards the non-fulfillment of the commitment made in 2016 for the upgrading and modernisation of public hospitals. Unfortunately, very little has been done and very late too. As a consequence, the political responsibility for the shrinking of the public health sector, as well as the danger of it being used to promote its privatisation, is grave.
- Despite the rejection of the amendment tabled by AKEL to extend the potential possibility of the provision of state support for another year, we consider positive the fact that the leadership of the Democratic Rally DISY party has for the first time publicly committed itself to oppose any form of privatisation of the sector. This commitment was made from the floor of Parliament by DIKO party too.
- What everyone must focus on, and in particular those who bear responsivities, is the implementation in practice of the upgrading and modernisation of the public health sector and the implementation of the operational – strategic plan that has been elaborated, albeit very late.
30.04.2024
