By 2023, the OAS sees the inclusion of podiatrists and podiatrists in GHS services, following the debate that opened today before the Parliamentary Health Committee, with an ex-officio inquiry proposed by DPA MP Michael Yakoumi.
The services of these professionals, related to the care of chronic patients, the elderly, patients with diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
During the meeting, data from the USA were presented on behalf of the representatives of the Pancyprian Association of Registered Podiatrists on the benefits for both patients and the health system. In particular, they reported that the provision of podiatric services results in a 40% reduction in hospitalisations and a 70% reduction in amputations, while they noted that savings in hospital costs of €20,000 and €50,000[/B] are achieved.000 respectively.[/B]
In addition, as a benefit of using these professionals, other specialties involved in the management of leg ulcer cases, such as surgeons, can be relieved. It was stressed by the representatives of the Association that so far no official research has been done on the costs with which the health system in Cyprus is burdened due to the disproportionately high number of amputations per year. Moreover, according to the Association's members' estimates, the number of patients with diabetes in Cyprus who will develop leg ulcers is 35%, while about 1,000 people undergo amputations every year.
Besides, the OSAK (Federation of Cyprus Patients' Associations) pointed out that the health system is already significantly burdened due to the lack of prevention services, including those of podiatrists.
The President of the Committee and MP of DISY, Efthimios Diplaros, in his statements after the meeting, welcomed the start of the dialogue between professionals and the OAI, explaining that "by the end of the year to have completed the consultations and within the first quarter of 2023 to have this large group of doctors in the General Health Plan". He stressed, moreover, that the data presented by the Association of Podiatrists before the Commission is very important and confirms the need to include these professionals in the General Health System.
"At a previous meeting of the Health Committee we were informed that in Cyprus we have four times the number of amputations than in other European countries," said DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis in his statements, stressing that podiatrists and podiatrists can contribute to the reduction of this rate. He explained, however, that it is not expected before 2023 that these professionals will be included in the GHS.
DPA MP and rapporteur of the issue, Michael Yakoumi, in his statements said that "the non-inclusion of the profession in the GESY so far is unjustified, both because of the great necessity of the sector and the great demand from patients themselves, but also in the context of equal treatment of health professionals."
"We will follow the discussion that will evolve between the association of podiatrists and the OAI on the plan with the coding of the conditions that can be treated and the services that can be offered by eligible patients," Yakoumi added, stressing that the inclusion of these professionals in the GHS will result in a reduction in costs, as well as an improvement in the quality of life of patients. "As DPA we will demand that it be in the global budget of the OAS for 2023," he concluded."
Proposal to increase the budget for occupational therapies for the disabled and chronically ill
The Health Committee meeting also discussed the issue of the provision of services by occupational therapists through the GHS to the disabled and chronically ill. As a positive development, it was noted that the OAS had proposed an increase in the budget for these services, although it was felt that further consultation between the OAS and occupational therapists should continue in order to clarify aspects of the provision of these services.
The Chairman of the Committee and DISY MP, Efthimios Diplaros, expressed his satisfaction with the OAI's proposal for a budget of 12,878,000 euros, compared to 6,560,000 euros in 2020. "The budget for occupational therapists is almost doubled and the aim and purpose is to include all and individuals in the General Health System," he said. However, he expressed concern about the delay and the problems that have arisen from the failure to complete consultations between the OAI and the occupational therapists' sector.
"We consider these branches, such as podiatrists, podiatrists and occupational therapists, to be the most important arms in this great reform of what we call the General Health System, but above all in the qualitative upgrade of the medical services provided by the General Health System to patients," he concluded.
DIKO MP, Chrysanthos Savvidis, expressed his regret that "there is no real consultation between the Association and the OAI, resulting in patients being deprived of the services of occupational therapists" and called both the Occupational Therapists Association, and the OAI, "to put water in their wine so that private occupational therapists can join the programme so that we can meet the needs of people with disabilities".
EDEK MP, Andreas Apostolou, noted that to date, private occupational therapists have not been included in the health system, because negotiations with the OAI are pending, resulting in parents paying the cost of treatments that should be provided by the health system. "We have asked the OAI to record the numbers of persons with disabilities who need occupational therapy, to calculate, depending on the disability, the number of occupational therapies they will need per year, so that as a committee we know the needs and we can help in the dialogue," he added, explaining that the OAI was asked to develop services to meet these needs until then. "But the goal, because that is the philosophy of the health system, is that each person can choose their therapist and the system can provide that."
Source: CNA
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