Cyprus patient federation demands state action on home care gaps and digital health files

Local healthTop News Cyprus patient federation demands state action on home care gaps and digital health files Nosokomeio Relevant News Cyprus patient federation demands state action on home care gaps and digital health files 1 August 2026 Six men arrested over kidnapping and extortion of 20-year-old in Famagusta district 1 August 2026 Cyprus airports manage 53,000 passengers daily as smart tracking highlights arrival passport control delays 1 August 2026 Marilena Panayi 1 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (OSAK) has made tackling the severe shortage in home care and hospital-at-home services a primary objective, stating that citizens are currently forced to pay out of pocket for services the state health scheme (Gesy) should provide. OSAK President Miltos Miltiadous told Phileleftheros that when patients or disabled individuals require home care, rehabilitation, or support, the lack of state solutions shifts the burden onto families or uncertified caregivers who lack proper coordination and individual needs assessments. He added that this situation must change without delay. Miltiadous outlined the federation’s objectives, calling for a unified evaluation system across all state services to prevent patients from undergoing multiple reviews with differing criteria for the same condition. He noted that the current fragmented delivery of services and benefits fails to meet actual patient needs. Reviewing Gesy seven years after its launch, Miltiadous described it as the most significant social reform in the history of the Republic of Cyprus. However, he identified critical issues requiring immediate attention, including service quality controls, waiting lists for specific medical specialties, delays in approving innovative treatments and named patient requests, slow integration of occupational therapy and rehabilitation services, and the need to expand specialised infrastructure beyond urban centres. The OSAK president said multiple improvements are possible, such as establishing quality criteria and clinical protocols for managing stable chronic patients, removing medical restrictions, and introducing auditing for medical procedures, which will be supported by the upcoming National Centre for Clinical Documentation. Miltiadous stated that the federation’s second priority is establishing comprehensive, individualised care. He noted that home healthcare and rehabilitation must be integrated into the Gesy service package. Whilst Gesy has resolved many issues, Miltiadous observed that it has operational limits, creating an urgent need for a national long-term care strategy backed by a specific timeline and budget. This strategy would coordinate the ministries of health, social welfare, and labour to ensure adequate care for elderly and disabled citizens, preventing complications and secondary illnesses currently managed by family members. Addressing potential funding objections, Miltiadous argued that the current lack of structure already creates significant costs. He noted that families, Gesy—through hospital readmissions, bed blocking, and unnecessary patient transfers—and various ministries through disjointed care allowances are already absorbing these costs in an uncoordinated manner. The federation is also prioritising the integration of modern technology and artificial intelligence to simplify how citizens interact with the healthcare system, allowing them to manage appointments, referrals, prescriptions, and test results via mobile devices. Miltiadous emphasised that a fully implemented electronic patient record is vital for system interoperability. He stated that giving healthcare professionals access to an updated, single patient profile would reduce medical errors, prevent conflicting treatments or duplicate tests, and ensure continuity of care from hospital to home. Miltiadous added that an anonymous, centralised database would allow authorities to track population health metrics, identify high-risk groups, design preventative interventions, measure treatment efficacy, and allocate public resources based on actual needs. Furthermore, OSAK considers the reinforcement of personal doctors (GPs) a core pillar of Gesy. Miltiadous noted that the federation aims to expand the role and responsibilities of personal doctors whilst educating citizens on how to utilise them effectively to unlock the full potential of the health system. The new OSAK executive plans to map out systemic changes identified by its member associations to pursue its goals independently of political parties or special interests. Miltiadous concluded by stating that the federation will strengthen its cooperation with the Patient Advocate, seeking an expanded organisational role for the office, whilst continuing structured dialogue with the Ministry of Health, the House Health Committee, political parties, and other stakeholders. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Six men arrested over kidnapping and extortion of 20-year-old in Famagusta district Cyprus airports manage 53,000 passengers daily as smart tracking highlights arrival passport control delays Ancient shipwreck discovered off Andros island sheds light on late classical Aegean maritime trade Coastguard launches sea rescues as storm-force winds drive fires to beach resorts in Boeotia and West Attica Larnaca’s Livadia district sees massive construction boom as oil refinery site frees coastal land Tax Department issues eviction threat to First Division football clubs over €1m debt Two arrested at Larnaca airport over Nicosia attempted murder Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.