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- Ελληνικά
Health Minister Michael Damianos attended today's meeting of the Parliamentary Health Committee, during which he briefed the members of the Committee on the priorities of the Ministry of Health. The Minister said that the priorities of the Ministry of Health are focused on three axes:
- upgrading the health services provided
- safeguarding the system and correcting the distortions identified in the operation of the GHS
- promoting legislation and creating new legislation that will support the GHS and the health sector in general.
"It was a very productive discussion, in which both policy and practical issues were discussed. We have answered the questions of all the parliamentary groups," Damianos said, stressing that "the health sector is a sector in which there are no colourings." With collective effort, he added, the problems will be solved.
Asked if there is a request to the European authorities for an extension of the state sponsorship to the OCYPY, he said there is no such request. "The issue has been raised legally and there is no need to make a request to the European authorities for various legal reasons, which we can list as we go along. The sponsorship to OKYPY can be extended without EU approval," he said."
Asked also to comment on the Health Ministry's intentions regarding OKYPY, since the period of state sponsorship to the organisation expires at the end of May, the minister said he expects to discuss the Action Plan with OKYPY. "As I have positioned myself in the Health Committee, as a government we are in favour of supporting the OCYP because we understand the reasons why it has not been able to implement its own plan, mainly to do with the pandemic, which had delayed things somewhat. That does not mean that this will be done without timetables and without conditions. There are conditions, timetables and a plan, so that the OCYP is supported. The Agency will have to help us to help it by implementing the final Action Plan, which we will have to agree on immediately, in the coming weeks."
Asked to comment on whether there is a disagreement between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance on the issue of the extension period, Damianos clarified that there is no such issue. "We are the same government as the Ministry of Finance. These are issues that we are discussing together and we will move forward together." He pointed out that the government is positive about further support for the OCYP, but is concerned about the quality of services. "We all understand and agree that public hospitals are necessary for our country. It is public hospitals that will support the country in times of pandemic crises, wars and emergencies. In addition to these, however, they must also provide services to citizens that are of a high standard. This is an area that needs improvement," Damianos said.
Finally, asked if the Ministry of Health will submit a bill on University Clinics within the next period of time, Damianos said that the Ministry's intention is to submit a bill. "The bill has been discussed for the past four years. It is not something we intend to discuss without conclusion. There has to be a conclusion. But some further discussions will have to take place. As I said in committee, obviously if the stakeholders had agreed, it would have been tabled already. It is not ready because, until now, there is no agreement," he concluded.
(DK)
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