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- Ελληνικά
"Joint efforts between small countries can have a bigger impact on health care systems than the size of each country."
This was pointed out by Minister of Health Dr. Poppy Kanari during her intervention at the World Health Organization's Small States Initiative Meeting on "Developing National Strategies and Action Plans for Human Resources for Health".
To address the challenges facing health care systems due to emerging emergencies, climate change and an ageing population, we need holistic approaches to human resource issues, Dr Kanari said.
Human resource issues in the health sector over time, she said, relate to the continuous professional development of health personnel, safe staffing in hospitals, the availability of health personnel for the required provision of care and the prevention and promotion of health
In this direction, she said, several actions have been implemented so far, such as:
- Establishment of a Faculty of Medicine at the University of Cyprus as well as support for private universities that support this effort
- Upgrading the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery to University status, offering postgraduate degrees in related subjects as an incentive to choose the health professions and supporting private universities in their nursing faculties
- Salary upgrades for medical and nursing staff
- Establishment of a Nursing and Midwifery Education Department within the Ministry for continuing education and updating the legislation that provides for the renewal of professional licenses through educational institutions
- Develop clinical pathways to maintain common and safe practice
- Provide support to the Health Professionals Registration Boards
At the same time, Dr. Kanari pointed out, additional actions are being taken, in collaboration with other organizations, with the ultimate goal of investing in the human resources of the health sector. These include:
- Developing partnerships for continuous professional development, with Universities, professional associations and patient groups
- Establishing dialogue, with the involvement of the Guilds, to promote important issues such as safety and mental health assurance for medical professionals
- Working with the Organisation of Employers and Industrialists to promote measures for the welfare of health professionals in relation to working hours, salary, suitable workplaces, programmes and actions to support them
In addition, from the beginning of 2024, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will conduct an information campaign in schools to promote the nursing profession.
Also, a number of scholarships will be awarded through the support of private and state hospitals, for the four-year academic degree in nursing.
Dr Kanari noted that Cyprus is committed to responding to the changing health needs of the population. Systematic actions are being taken to mitigate the challenges and this commitment is linked to the Strategic Plan and the State Budget at the Management, Training and Development level, which allows the Ministry of Health to take care of the human resources, she added.
"Cyprus is moving forward with breakthroughs, developing a Strategic Health Plan which is essential for comprehensive strategic planning and actions in the health sector, focusing particularly on mechanisms that ensure systematic monitoring, recording and evaluation For this reason, the Ministry of Health is proceeding with the Capacity Planning in the health care sector in Cyprus, a project co-funded by the EU, which will assess the capacity of the health care system to respond effectively to the current and future health needs of the population", she concluded.
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