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- Ελληνικά
It is not the intention of the government in any case neither to put a hand on the fund of the General Health System nor to cut off funds from the health sector, Health Minister Dr. Popi Kanari clarified in her statements, when asked to comment on what was mentioned at yesterday's press conference held by the Cyprus Federation of Patients' Associations (CPA).
The Health Minister indicated that the President of the Republic Nicos Christodoulides has already twice invited both the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) and the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) to meetings to see what needs to be improved, since the government's goal is quality criteria in the health system. Dr Kanari added: "The government's will is not to cut anything out of the GHS money. Moreover, this is evident from the budget we submitted for 2024, which is increased by 14%. Some funds that were not included in the budget relate to issues that we have now been asked to manage and will be included in the supplementary budget."
The Minister said that next week a meeting is expected to be set between the OAS and the Ministers of Finance and Health to discuss the issue. The Ministry, she said, believes that there is a need at OAS for staff.
Asked to comment on the outbreak of viral infections and the increase in cases of coronavirus, particularly among elderly people living in nursing homes, the Health Minister said that measures are already being taken.
Specifically on nursing homes, the Minister said: "Many elderly people are not vaccinated because their relatives do not consent to be vaccinated," despite the Ministry sending mobile vaccination units. "We currently have a number of around 75 patients in total and this worries us," Dr Kanari said.
In terms of measures being taken on nursing home roofs, the Health Minister said masks and coronavirus detection tests would be given to both staff and visitors, while vaccination efforts would continue, "because we may have more increase in cases and patients thereafter. We need to convince people that the vaccine protects. They may contract coronavirus, but the symptoms will be much milder after the vaccination," he said."
(AF/GC)
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