Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday that the government has broken no promises regarding Athalassa hospital, responding to trade union statements about understaffing and unsuitable buildings.
He said the government is working to address challenges across hospitals and that he had a meeting scheduled at 4pm with Okypy on broader planning and investments in public hospitals exceeding €126 million.
Government response
Christodoulides said the government is addressing challenges in hospitals in general and linked the issue to broader planning for the public healthcare system.
He said the planned meeting with Okypy was part of discussions on investments to be made in public hospitals worth more than €126 million.
Union concerns
Last month, the Pasydy trade union warned that Athalassa psychiatric hospital is facing severe staff shortages and overcrowding, which it said are jeopardising the safety of both patients and employees.
“We are not talking about a theoretical staffing problem. We are talking about wards operating at 150 per cent of their capacity and colleagues who are called upon daily to care for patients in conditions that should not exist in a modern hospital,” the union said.