Private hospitals in Cyprus are sounding the alarm over a critical shortage of nurses, warning of potential disruptions in services, postponed surgeries, and even clinic closures.
The Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB), representing private hospitals, is urging the government to consider employing nurses from outside the European Union to address the staffing crisis.
“OEB anxiously highlights the acute shortage of nursing staff and the pressing staffing needs faced by private hospitals, which are a fundamental pillar and irreplaceable provider for both the public health system and public health more broadly,” it said.
They argue that recruiting nurses from non-EU countries, along with using foreign graduates of Cypriot nursing schools, is the only way to ensure the smooth operation of hospitals.
This proposal comes in response to the Health Minister’s intention to establish agreements with other countries for nurse recruitment.
However, this plan faces opposition from nursing associations in Cyprus, who have previously expressed concerns about employing nurses from outside the EU.
They argue that “patient safety remains paramount for the unions, who prioritise ensuring foreign nurses meet Cypriot education standards and achieve fluency in Greek before registration.”
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