The health ministry is proposing a tiered emergency department system to reduce overcrowding, with Health Minister Michalis Damianos telling the parliamentary health committee this is “the only way to truly decongest hospital A&E departments”.
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) reported a 73% increase in emergency department visits in Nicosia alone during 2024, with no clear scientific explanation for the surge, according to senior HIO official Monica Kyriacou.
The proposed reform would create different categories of emergency departments, allowing patients with minor injuries or non-urgent conditions to be treated at facilities with fewer specialist resources.
“A person with a minor hand or foot injury should be able to visit a unit that isn’t a full A&E but can provide care outside working hours”, Damianos explained.
The HIO has indicated willingness to implement the tiered system, noting that while Cyprus has 70 hospitals under the national health scheme (GHS), not all need full emergency departments.
Medical Services Director Elisabeth Constantinou confirmed that many A&E visitors require different types of care, highlighting the need for better patient direction.
Separately, Damianos acknowledged management issues at Limassol and Paphos hospitals, supporting greater autonomy for facilities currently under joint administration.
He noted that while the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) could appoint separate executive directors, budgetary constraints must be considered.
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