Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus state hospitals are facing a shortage of about 600 nurses, Health Minister Neofytos Charalambides told parliament on Thursday. He said the government is considering short- and long-term measures, including tightly controlled hiring of nurses from non-EU countries.
Staff shortages at state hospitals
Speaking in parliament, Charalambides said nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and that staffing shortages directly affect patient safety and the working conditions of healthcare workers.
Proposal for non-EU recruitment
The minister said one possible short-term measure would be the strictly controlled employment of nurses from non-EU countries. He said this would be a supplementary step and not a replacement for Cypriot or European nurses.
Conditions for employment
According to the proposal, up to 10 per cent of personnel at each healthcare facility could be made up of nurses from non-EU countries, under strict conditions. These nurses would need to have a solid grasp of Greek, would receive work permits valid for two years only, and would not be assigned as shift supervisors.
Safeguards for existing staff
Charalambides said any steps taken would not be intended to adversely affect nurses’ entitlements or create unemployment among people holding a nursing degree.
