Health Minister Michalis Damianos has called for urgent parliamentary discussion of university hospital legislation, warning that political parties must act before entering the pre-electoral period for the upcoming 2026 parliamentary elections.
Speaking to Phileleftheros, Damianos emphasised that Cyprus currently operates three medical schools without legally regulated university hospitals, describing this as demonstrating the urgency of the issue.
“If discussion begins in September, we will have four months at our disposal before the pre-electoral period for parliamentary elections begins,” Damianos said. “In these four months, I believe we will have the opportunity to address most concerns.”
The minister acknowledged ongoing objections despite a decade of consultation on the matter, attributing resistance primarily to “trade union issues” rather than substantive concerns about the legislation’s framework.
Ambulance service reforms advance on dual tracks
The government is pursuing parallel processes for ambulance service management, with legislation transferring services from the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) to the Health Ministry whilst simultaneously developing a crisis management authority.
Damianos explained that ambulance services require time and planning before integration into any crisis management body. The transfer aims to ensure emergency and serious cases remain under state responsibility, as practised in most other countries.
“Ambulances will focus on these cases and be freed from various other incidents involving simple transfers to hospitals, thus reducing response times,” he stated.
Private ambulances will be integrated to handle routine transfers, whilst state services concentrate on emergencies. The ambulance service was transferred “temporarily” to HIO in 2019 after government commitments to establish an independent ambulance authority.
Quality controls target private emergency departments
The ministry has received complaints about inadequate services and absent infrastructure or medical specialities in private hospital emergency departments operating within the General Health System.
“We are in contact with both hospitals and the Health Insurance Organisation to see what corrective measures could be taken,” Damianos said.
The Health Insurance Organisation began implementing quality criteria for emergency departments one month ago, including mandatory presence of doctors from various specialities.
National Centre for Clinical Evidence to revolutionise healthcare
The minister described the National Centre for Clinical Evidence as the second-largest healthcare reform after the General Health System, ensuring scientifically evidence-based quality health services.
“The Centre operates based on desire, cooperation and demand from both doctors and patients,” he noted, highlighting the broad support for the initiative.
The centre will manage pharmaceutical protocols following transfer of the Drug Advisory Committee from the Health Insurance Organisation, enabling general application of protocols beyond the health system.
Parliament passed community nursing legislation on Thursday, though the minister indicated no immediate plans for state home care services beyond this framework, stating the need to assess practical implementation before identifying gaps and needs.
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