Health minister calls for action on Cyprus’ ageing population and declining birth rate

Nicosia, Cyprus. Addressing Cyprus’ ageing population and declining birth rate is “a national responsibility”, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said on Friday. Speaking at a health conference in Nicosia, he warned that demographic change would affect the staffing and financing of services and urged that “preparation must precede the need”.

Demographic concerns

Archbishop Georgios said the “Turkish invasion and the continuing occupation” were the primary cause of the declining birth rate.

“Failure to at least replenish the population carries the greatest risks,” he said, expressing concern that “Greek Cypriots will become a minority in their homeland”.

Nicosia mayor Charalambos Prountzos said the population had grown by 30.4 per cent over 20 years, almost entirely through migration. He stressed that longer lives require “dignified living”.

George Patoulis, president of the Athens Medical Association, described demographics as “a common challenge” for Cyprus and Greece that requires “coordinated action”.

Health as a platform for cooperation

Charalambides said health could provide “a platform for understanding even where there are political differences”, while making clear that it “cannot resolve conflicts in isolation”.

Prountzos proposed that medicine could serve as “a bridge” between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots through better use of medical infrastructure and easier patient access to specialised services.

Khassim Diagne, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Cyprus, said health had become “a global issue that brings people and states together”.

Petros Agathangelou, president of the Pancyprian Medical Association (CyMA), cited the World Health Organisation’s Global Initiative for Health and Peace and said well-designed programmes could strengthen “dialogue and social cohesion”.