An additional €67.4 million has been allocated to the Cyprus General Healthcare System (GeSY) budget for the year 2023.
Despite some parliamentary factions raising concerns about management errors within the system during yesterday’s parliamentary session, they eventually voted in favor, offering relief to the beleaguered GeSY, which has been waiting for funding for several months.
The supplementary GeSY budget will be funded by its own resources, specifically from the €450 million reserve already at the system’s disposal.
According to the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), the €67.4 million appropriation is meant to cover part of the €93 million that had been initially budgeted for 2023 but was removed approximately a year ago following the intervention of the Ministry of Finance.
These additional funds, amounting to €67.4 million, will be used to address the extra costs incurred due to the inclusion of another hospital and clinic in the system, the incorporation of two more private Accident and Emergency Departments, and the introduction of new services within GeSY, such as podiatry services.
Marinos Sizopoulos, President of the EDEK party, argued that there are “faulty implementations of GeSY, stemming from either a lack of experience or serving ulterior motives.” He cited the differing compensation levels for the same medical procedures at GeSY-affiliated hospitals and questioned the necessity of a supplementary budget, considering the overall financial stability of GeSY.
Sizopoulos stated that “GeSY represents one of the most significant social achievements,” but emphasized that “there are two or three crucial proposals that, if adopted, will enhance it.”
The parliamentary representative of DISY, Panicos Leonidou, and independent MP Andreas Themistocleous concurred with Sizopoulos’ remarks. DISY’s Savia Orphanidou highlighted that “the supplementary budget will be covered from internal resources” and pointed out “gaps and distortions that need correction.”
In response to Sizopoulos, the parliamentary representative of AKEL, Giorgos Loukaidis, noted that “GeSY’s fund reserves amount to €450 million, with projected surpluses exceeding €70 million for 2023.”
Loukaidis also highlighted the consistent criticism of GeSY by certain parliamentary factions and parties, characterizing them as “misleading.”
He further emphasized that the Minister of Finance had recently described GeSY as “the second most significant challenge for the country’s economy” and suggested that “someone should inform the Minister of Finance about the actual circumstances.” He insinuated that these parties have abandoned their commitments to modernizing public hospitals, leading them to significant deficiencies while attempting to shift any threat onto GeSY and its funds.
HIO provided written responses to the concerns raised during yesterday’s parliamentary session. These responses were conveyed through letters sent to the Parliament last Wednesday upon the request of the Health Committee.
