[Cyprus Times] The re-evaluation and review of the number of treatments through GHS in chronic patients at the Health Committee

The re-evaluation and revision of the number of treatments offered through the GESY to chronic patients was discussed today by the Health Committee of the Parliament, in order to solve the problem of insufficient sessions in speech therapies, physical therapies etc.The issue concerns people with disabilities, people with autism, chronic patients, people with cerebral palsy, children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), who need treatments throughout their lives. The OAI will proceed with a review of the criteria by which treatments are provided in these cases and will be asked to inform Parliament of the results within a few weeks.[/P]

The Chair of the Committee and DISY MP, Savia Orphanidou, said that the OAI had unfortunately proceeded with a decision, with its own criteria, for an age-based approach to the severity of each illness.

The meeting, she said, was attended by a student suffering from cerebral palsy, "who stressed to us how important it is to continue her treatment after 25 years," she said, stressing that through state services, these children should be given the opportunity to receive treatment whenever they need it.

"It is clear from all colleagues, but also from the side of the OAI, that the whole process and the decision that has been taken must be re-evaluated, together with the committees that have been set up for these issues, such as the physiotherapy committee for children with cerebral palsy," he added, and assured that the Education Committee would bring the issue back for discussion within a few weeks to see where the review of the OAI's decision has ended up.

"As DISY we fully support this effort to support the patients and children who really need it," the MP concluded.

DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis said in a statement that the OAI seems to have modified and reduced the physiotherapy services provided for children and adults with cerebral palsy. "This decision was taken without any consultation and no scientific data has been presented on which the decision was based," he added.

He acknowledged, however, as a positive development the intention of the OAI to review this decision through its Scientific Advisory Committee and also the intention of the Federation of Cyprus Patients' Associations to participate in the OAI's Scientific Committees where they will be able to express their views on these issues.

The MP of the DPA, Michalis Giakoumi, in his statements on the issue, said that "the state has the obligation and must above all ensure and provide the best quality of services in the health sector and especially to these people with disabilities, who every day give their own struggle for survival, to maintain their health and their physical condition at the best possible levels".

He added that, in addition to reviewing the number of treatments provided, there is also a need to formulate a more holistic plan for the care of people with chronic diseases. "Bearing in mind the current data and the current situation, we demand that a national strategic plan for the multidisciplinary, holistic management of chronic diseases be formulated," he concluded.

The EPP MP, Andreas Apostolou, said that the OAI should review the inclusion of private occupational therapists in the GHS, the inclusion of counselling and school psychologists in the GHS (so far only clinical psychologists are included), the number of treatments provided to chronic patients, as well as the participation of a representative of chronic patients in the scientific groups that make decisions.

He expressed his pleasure that the Health Committee had raised the issue, as well as the positive response of the OAI to the need to review the number of treatments offered. He noted that a comparison of the number of treatments covered by public hospitals prior to the creation of the GHS was requested in order to show the difference with the current situation.

In conclusion, he stressed that the GESY is particularly needed by patients with chronic diseases and added that since its creation was achieved, it is time to discuss any distortions or weaknesses so that it serves exactly those for whom it was created.

Source: CNA

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