Personal doctors in Cyprus will have greater freedom of movement within the General Health System (Gesy) and referrals they issue to specialists will bear a special sign.
The sign will probably be of a different colour indicating how urgent the patient’s condition is, Philenews reported on Tuesday.
At the same time, the Health Insurance Agency (HIO) will try to study whether a mechanism could be put in place which would prohibit a second appointment with a specialist doctor of the same specialty for a reasonable period of time. That is, without hindering the citizen’s right to a second medical opinion.
The changes aim to reduce the waiting time for an appointment with a specialist doctor under the Gesy – something that it currently inconveniences thousands of patients on a daily basis.
Moreover, afternoon outpatient clinics operated by the State Health Services (Okypy) will have their working hours and days extended.
This is what Health Minister Popi Kanari told journalists, adding that working hour extensions will mostly impact specialities such as cardiology, nephrology, and endocrinology. And that the aim is to improve the long waiting times faced by patients.
The announcement came after talks on Monday hosted by Kanari and attended by representatives of Okypy, the HIO, the Cyprus Medical Association (PIS) and the Federation of Cyprus Patients’ Associations (Osak).
