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It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that I welcome you to today's Journalists' Conference of the Ministry of Health, which marks the launch of the campaign to promote the nursing and midwifery profession in the media. The campaign's main message is "Invest in life by studying nursing and midwifery" and is a collective effort to attract new nursing students from the next academic year 2024 - 2025 to our country's universities.
The Ministry of Health recognizes the shortage of nursing and midwifery staff in all European Union countries and in Cyprus. It is a fact that in recent years, in our country, there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of new undergraduate nursing students entering our Universities, TEPAK and private universities, which have Departments/Faculties of Nursing. It is important to note that in Cyprus the unemployment rate of nurses is zero, while at the same time the nursing profession appears to be in significant demand, and it is predicted that in the coming years, the need for nurses in our country's Health System will remain high.
According to the records of the Registrar of Private Nursing Homes, there are new Private Nursing Homes that are in the process of obtaining a license to establish and operate, some of which have secured a license to establish and are in the process of securing a license to operate. It should be noted that there are also existing Private Hospitals in the process of obtaining a license to establish and operate, which will undergo modifications/expansions that require an increase in the number of nursing staff. Most beds are in General Nursing Departments and a small number of beds are in ICUs and ICUs. It is estimated that 470 nurses are needed to staff them properly. In addition, a significant number of nursing and midwifery staff are expected to retire (due to age) from the nursing and midwifery facilities of the OCYPY.
Taking into account these needs, the Ministry of Health decided for the year 2024 to allocate the largest amount from the Health Enlightenment Budget for the implementation of a communication campaign to attract young people to choose studies in nursing and midwifery.
In view of these needs, the Ministry of Health decided for the year 2024 to allocate the largest amount from the Health Enlightenment Budget for the implementation of a communication campaign to attract young people to choose studies in nursing and midwifery. Our campaign will be disseminated in almost all mass media such as: television, radio, billboards, portals, social media in cooperation with the Press and Information Office.
The communication campaign to attract young people to study nursing and midwifery is only one part of the Ministry of Health's actions to promote and develop the nursing and midwifery profession. In cooperation with the Directorate of Nursing Services, the Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Pancyprian Nurses and Midwives Association (P.SY.N.M) and the Universities (CUT and private) that have Schools of Nursing, developed an informative presentation on the nursing and midwifery profession, which was presented online by the Director of Nursing Services to the Counselling and Vocational Education Counsellors of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Health Care Systems, both in Europe and in Cyprus, are called upon to manage the emerging challenge of workforce availability in the Health Sector. Undoubtedly, the ability of all Health Systems to provide quality health services, which primarily ensure the safety of citizens and at the same time respond to changing health needs, depends to a large extent on the availability of the workforce, which must possess the necessary scientific knowledge and skills. The shortage of nursing and midwifery staff in Cyprus is now a fact that must be addressed effectively.
Cyprus is one of the few countries in the world that maintains a uniform university level of nursing, which ensures quality nursing care and makes it a model in the international nursing community. Nursing is the sum total of a scientific body of knowledge, research and necessary specialised practice. It is an offer of health, as a distinct science, with social sensitivity, with respect for the human being, at all stages of health and illness, throughout the life course, even before conception and birth, until old age and death.
I would like to note that the implementation of the General Health Insurance Scheme from 2019 is one of the most important social reforms of the Republic of Cyprus, which remains flexible and in continuous evolution. The vision of ensuring a high level of health for citizens and timely and equitable access to health services is being implemented at a steady pace, despite the adverse conditions we had to manage due to the recent pandemic crisis. Undoubtedly, the nursing profession is a leading contributor to high quality health systems, as it covers a wide range of activities, ranging from prevention, implementation of health promotion programmes, patient care and rehabilitation, to research. It is practised in primary health care facilities, community nursing, community midwifery, home care, school health, secondary and tertiary health care facilities, OCHS nursing homes, private nursing homes, geriatric clinics, rehabilitation facilities, mental health clinics, ambulance service, education and research.
We must invest in the nursing and midwifery profession to maintain and develop our country's health care system. I appeal to our young people, who are still in the process of choosing their studies for the next academic year, as well as to our secondary school students, to seriously consider choosing to study nursing and midwifery.
In conclusion, I would like to express my thanks to all my colleagues at the Ministry of Health, the Press and Information Office and all those who contributed to the implementation of the campaign to promote the nursing and midwifery profession.
(DK)
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