A study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT) of the European Parliament and published on Friday.
For Cyprus, the study reports health expenditures for 2022 equal to 8.3% of GDP and 308.2 hospital beds per 100,000 residents. The overall rate of self-reported unmet healthcare needs stood at 0.2%, which was attributed to cost, while the rates associated with distance and waiting lists were 0%.
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In the same year, Cyprus recorded 70.9 deaths from preventable causes per 100,000 residents, 1,023.2 healthcare professionals per 100,000 residents, and 1,001.8 potential years of life lost per 100,000 residents due to preventable causes.
For 2023, the study reports 0% unmet needs in Cyprus due to long waiting lists, 0% due to distance, and 0.1% due to cost, with the total percentage for all three reasons amounting to 0.1%.
In fact, the study singles out Cyprus in its country-specific reports for having a zero percent rate of unmet needs related to waiting lists.
The study also references a survey on endometriosis in Cyprus, according to which the average annual economic cost was estimated at $9,864 per person. This amount included costs related to access to health care, lost productivity, and absences from work due to illness.
The study, titled “Delayed Access to Healthcare in Europe,” examines the causes and consequences of delays, as well as potential policies to reduce them. It was conducted by researchers at Newcastle University and submitted by the European Parliament’s Policy Department at the request of SANT.
Delayed access is defined as situations in which citizens do not receive services—such as a medical examination, diagnosis, referral, treatment, or follow-up care within the appropriate or expected timeframe.
According to the study, the main causes include low health literacy, geographic barriers, the organization and capacity of health services, long waiting lists, and financial burdens on patients.
It also notes that delays may be linked to a deterioration in health and quality of life, preventable deaths, increased use of emergency services, longer hospital stays, higher costs for health care systems, and broader economic losses.
Among the proposals put forward are strengthening health education and prevention, combating misinformation, developing digital and community-based care models, improving access for vulnerable groups, and reducing financial, administrative, and organizational barriers.
Source: KYPE
