The Parliamentary Health Committee discussed the problems at Limassol General Hospital and the need to resolve them immediately. During the meeting, AKEL MPs, Konstantinos Konstantinou and Marina Nikolaou, referred to complaints regarding the selection process for medical directors at public hospitals, with Kypros Stavridis, General Executive Director of OKYPY, stating that the Organization would respond in writing.
Mr. Stavridis also noted that OKYPY has invested €27 million to upgrade the infrastructure of Limassol General Hospital.
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In his opening remarks, the Committee’s Vice Chair, DISY MP Charalambos Pazaros, said that “OKYPY acknowledges that there are problems.”
“Investments are being made in the private sector, and we must invest in public hospitals so that we can remain competitive. If we do not invest in our public hospitals, we will not be able to become self-sufficient,” he said.
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou said that “anyone who dares to criticize the status quo is considered an enemy of the public hospital.” The problems at Limassol General Hospital are long-standing; they are not isolated incidents, she noted.
At the same time, Ms. Nikolaou asked the Cyprus Health Services Organization (OKYPY) whether there are shortages of medical and nursing staff, whether there are unused beds, whether chemotherapy sessions are being canceled, and why the CT and MRI scanners are not operating in the afternoons.
The Parliamentary Spokesperson for DIKO, Panikos Leonidou, noted that Limassol’s population has grown, pointing out that any decisions must take these new circumstances into account.
“Is there an operational strategy plan from the OAY?” he asked. He proposed that the OAU prepare a master plan for the Limassol General Hospital with a ten-year horizon and submit it to the House of Representatives. “There has been no change for the better,” he said.
Litsa Drousiotou, a Member of Parliament from the Alma Movement, asked to be informed of the wait times for MRI and CT scans at Limassol General Hospital.
AKEL MP Konstantinos Konstantinou raised the issue of the job posting for the position of Scientific Director of the Limassol-Paphos of the OKYPY, requesting information on the predetermined criteria for this position and the reasons for the rejection of Sotiris Koumas, President of PASYKI, who was the sole candidate for the position in question.
“We want answers as to whether he was evaluated based on his role as a union representative, the time he has available given that he is a union leader, and whether Mr. Koumas’s public statements regarding the OKYPY’s operating model were taken into account,” added Mr. Konstantinou.
“We have also received complaints about other instances where candidates were asked whether they are members of AKEL’s Central Committee,” he said.
DISY MP Giorgos Pamborides said that most of the problems stem from the OKYPY’s inability to become autonomous as provided for by law. “You continue to be under the state’s informal control. You must become fully independent from the central government,” he emphasized.
Mr. Pazaros said, “We recognize the great effort being made by OKYPY, but the problems remain.”
Kypros Stavridis, CEO of OKYPY, said that criticism is always welcome, clarifying that he does not agree with Panikos Leonidou’s comment that there has been “any change for the better.”
“We are one of the providers under the General Healthcare System (GeSY); we are not the only provider,” he said, adding that “we have a very high level of clinical staffing.”
Mr. Stavridis also noted that €27 million has been invested in the infrastructure of Limassol General Hospital. The Hemodialysis Unit is ready, and the ICU upgrade will also be completed, he said, noting that other projects will follow.
Speaking about the equipment upgrade, he said that further investments in Limassol Hospital will follow. “We are building a pediatric radiology referral center, something that does not exist in other hospitals in Cyprus,” he pointed out. “We have allocated a substantial amount of funding to the hospital for its electromechanical support,” he added.
“We’ve moved forward with contracting services from nephrologists and will proceed with public tenders,” said Mr. Stavridis, adding that “we’ve invested in a second CT scanner.” The OAY is constantly downgrading units for specialized cases, he noted.
Responding to AKEL MP Konstantinos Konstantinou, Mr. Stavridis said that OKYPY will provide written responses regarding the issue of the job posting for the position of Scientific Director of Limassol-Paphos. Responding to DIKO Parliamentary Spokesperson Panikos Leonidou, he noted that there is a master plan for the Limassol General Hospital, which will be submitted to Parliament.
Addressing Mr. Stavridis, AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou asked whether the allegation was true that “a female candidate was asked (during an interview by the Cyprus Medical Council) whether she could handle two male doctors when they get into a fight.” She also asked whether a male candidate had been asked a similar question. Mr. Stavridis said he would not answer Ms. Nikolaou’s question.
The spokesperson for the Pan-Cyprian Association of Nurses and Midwives said it is unthinkable to ask nurses to perform non-nursing duties. When hospitals are built, the well-being of patients is not taken into account.
Dimitris Lambrianidis, speaking on behalf of OSAC, stated that “we have left OKYPY trapped in bureaucracy and informal autonomy.” OKYPY’s operating hours are “outdated,” he said, noting that it is “unthinkable” that some hospitals are unable to resolve the issue of cleanliness.
There are problems with the pricing of services, he added. The issue of university hospitals is being postponed indefinitely, he pointed out.
Panagiotis Savva, speaking on behalf of PASYDY, said that the Limassol General Hospital has shortcomings and needs to be improved.
Apostolia Andreou, speaking on behalf of the Pan-Cyprian Union for Equality, asked whether there are enough healthcare professionals at Limassol General Hospital.
Christos Christodoulou, speaking on behalf of PASYNO, said that “some projects are underway at the hospital, but we are not seeing any progress.” “We have sent letters to OKYpY, which have gone unanswered,” he noted.
Giorgos Pamporidis said it had been agreed that for every 7 nurses there would be 4 orderlies, noting that this agreement had not been honored.
Moses Lambrou of PASYDY said that the dialogue on staffing issues must yield results.
George Georgiou, speaking on behalf of PIS, noted that most of the problems in hospitals are related to understaffing. He spoke of “endless bureaucracy” in the process of hiring doctors.
Marios Charalambides, the Patient Ombudsman, said that there are idle machines in various hospitals across the country.
Petros Neophytou of the OAY noted that the Organization recognizes and compensates for the unique services provided by OKYPY.
Sotiris Koumas, President of PASYKI, said that not only should doctors be promoted, but the hospital’s infrastructure should also be upgraded, while he listed problems with its infrastructure.
The OKYPY spokesperson said that efforts are being made to ensure adequate staffing at Limassol Hospital. She said there is no shortage of staff operating the MRI and CT scanners, noting, however, that there will be a shortage of radiologists.
Speaking after the Committee meeting concluded, its Vice Chair, DISY MP Charalambos Pazaros, said that “it is imperative that OKYPY expedite the procedures to address” the problems at Limassol General Hospital. “There is no room for further delays when it comes to the health of citizens,” he emphasized.
AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou stated that the process for selecting medical directors at public hospitals “has seriously compromised both OKYPY and the government.” Allegations of incidents have been made public, “which constitute a direct affront to meritocracy,” she said.
“For AKEL, public health is a right. The citizens of Limassol are entitled to a public hospital that is fully staffed with all necessary services and without delays in treatments and tests,” he emphasized.
ELAM MP Andreas Papacharalambous, stated that there are long-standing problems at Limassol General Hospital, noting that timelines must be established immediately.
“As ELAM, we are seeking answers to the questions that have been raised, and we will be back here very soon to ensure that the necessary answers are provided by the relevant authorities,” he concluded.
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Source: CNA
