[PIO] Message of the Minister of Health Mr. Michael Hadjipandela on the completion of three years since the implementation of the GESY

"Equal Access to Health Services"

Today marks three years since the implementation of the GESY. A social conquest that was a demand of society for many decades and with the political will of the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades became a reality. For three years now, GESY has been embraced by the citizens, serving thousands of patients per day and all our attention must be focused on its continuous improvement and upgrading, addressing any problems that arise without changing the philosophy of the system.

In these three years, the GHC has gone through infill and managed to survive, sending the message in all directions that the GHC is here to stay in the lives of citizens.

The numbers are indicative:

1. 917,000 GHS beneficiaries have registered on a Personal Physician list,
2. 777,000 beneficiaries have visited their Personal Physicians,
3. 756,000 beneficiaries visited their Personal Physicians,
4. 769,000 beneficiaries obtained medicines,
5. 159,000 beneficiaries received inpatient care services.

In the three years of the life of the GHS, participating:

1. 711 Personal Physicians
2. 1969 Specialists
3. 159 Laboratories
4. 1076 Other Health Professionals
5. 687 Dentists
6. 587 Pharmacies
7. 58 Nursing Homes

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Not only has the GHS withstood unprecedented pressures, such as that of the pandemic, but it has proven that it can shield public health in the best and most cost-effective way.

At the same time, to ensure the sustainability of the Health System itself, actions and measures are underway by the Health Insurance Agency to help normalize the operation of the System and address abuses. These include, inter alia:

2. Operation of on-call clinics by personal physicians for adults and children, which will operate in the evenings and on public holidays.
3. Inclusion of TAPs of private hospitals contracted with the GHS;
4. Application of stricter penalties to offending service providers and/or beneficiaries;
5. Intensification of audits in cooperation with external consultants and the Pancyprian Medical Association;
6. Intensification of audits in cooperation with external consultants and the Pancyprian Medical Association,
7. Inclusion of additional innovative drugs in the GHS, and
8. Implementation of a comprehensive information programme for GHS beneficiaries on the proper use of the system and the reduction of abuses.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the Ministry of Health, we will ensure the existence of the General Health System in every way possible. The GHS is here to stay and belongs to the citizens of this country, its providers and beneficiaries. I appeal to everyone to protect the biggest reform that has taken place in our country since 1960 like the apple of our eye.

(AF/NG/IC)
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