Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday that the government’s health care priorities are fully aligned with those of the federation of patients’ association, Osak. He spoke at the inauguration of Osak’s new offices in Nicosia.
Government and Osak partnership
Addressing representatives of patient organisations and government officials, Christodoulides said the attendance of five cabinet members reflected the importance attached to the health sector and Osak’s role as an institutional partner of the state. He said the presence of the ministers was indicative of Osak’s success and that the government approaches the federation “as partners and fellow travellers”.
Osak’s role and track record
Christodoulides said Osak has established itself since its foundation in 1986 as “a substantial and reliable institutional partner of the state”, representing dozens of organisations and thousands of patients across Cyprus. He said Osak has not raised issues beyond reason and that its focus has been to help patients as a whole.
Reforms and national health scheme focus
The president referred to recent health sector reforms including the appointment of a patients ombudsman, the planned establishment of a national cancer institute and the creation of a national clinical documentation centre. He said the government is continuing efforts to strengthen and upgrade the national health scheme, Gesy, with emphasis on service quality.
Hospital infrastructure and timelines
Christodoulides said the state has invested €145 million in public hospital infrastructure projects. Addressing health services organisation Okypy chairman Marinos Kallis, he said delays had emerged in one of seven agreed timelines and that the organisation would soon receive a formal letter urging faster progress on infrastructure works.
Accident and emergency departments
He said accident and emergency departments are of the utmost importance and added that they have helped improve the management of incidents.
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