Gesy review and public hospital support discussed at ministerial meeting

Nicosia, Cyprus. Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides and Akel secretary-general Stefanos Stefanou discussed the need for a comprehensive assessment of the national health scheme, Gesy, during a meeting on Friday.

Stefanou said the discussion also addressed the development of the healthcare sector, new hospital applications and the sustainability of public hospitals.

Assessment of Gesy

Stefanou described the meeting as “very constructive and thorough” and said Gesy had proven capable of providing universal and equal access to healthcare services regardless of status or income.

He said that despite shortcomings, distortions and other issues that had emerged, Gesy remained a significant achievement for society which Akel sought to safeguard and strengthen.

Stefanou said completing and submitting a comprehensive needs assessment was of paramount importance. He said such an evaluation was needed to assess the health system’s development, guide future decisions and ensure needs were met cost-effectively while maintaining efficiency, sustainability and quality.

Hospital sector

The meeting also covered the shaping of the healthcare sector in view of the large number of applications submitted for new hospitals of different sizes, which would add hundreds of beds to the system, Stefanou said.

He expressed concern about the acquisition of hospitals across the Republic by investment funds and said the sustainability of public hospitals had to be guaranteed so they could continue fulfilling their social function.

Stefanou said that because Gesy created conditions of competition between public and private healthcare providers, the state needed to support public hospitals so they could remain competitive for the benefit of society.

He described the meeting with Charalambides as a “very good dialogue” and said discussions would continue both in and outside parliament.