For the first time in 30 years, cancer—rather than cardiovascular disease—is the leading and most common cause of death in the Republic of Cyprus, according to the findings of the 12th Pan-Cyprus Public Health Conference, which was organized on Tuesday by the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII). The conference was held under the auspices of Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides, who delivered opening remarks.
According to a CII press release, “for the first time in 30 years, cancer—rather than cardiovascular disease—is the leading and most common cause of death in the Republic of Cyprus. This is a serious reason to intensify cancer prevention efforts among the Cypriot population, starting in childhood,” the statement emphasizes.
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“Greater financial investment in disease prevention is needed, as spending on prevention in Cyprus remains significantly lower—at approximately 2 percent—compared to the European average of 4 percent,”, the report notes.
“Prevention must begin in childhood, with a substantial enhancement of the role of schools and daycare centers in promoting healthy behaviors,” it adds.
It is also emphasized that “disease prevention and health promotion must be a central priority of the State and must be effectively integrated not only into health policies but also into policies on social welfare, education, the environment, and climate.”
“The concept of prevention is not limited to the confines of the hospital but extends to every municipality and community in Cyprus. More than 80% of the factors that influence health are linked to factors outside the health system, such as lifestyle, socioeconomic status, the environment, diet, physical activity, and smoking, among others,” the announcement states.
“We need population-level surveillance systems for diseases and risk factors with repeated assessments. These will collect reliable data and produce measurable health indicators. These health indicators will inform the planning of actions and interventions to reduce health risks in the population,” the statement notes.
“Socioeconomic inequalities are reflected in the health of the population, making it necessary to adopt policies that ensure equitable access to preventive measures and health services,” the report emphasizes.
“A necessary condition for prevention is systematic cross-sectoral collaboration among ministries, local governments, schools, the academic community, research institutions, and civil society—beyond their mere participation in joint committees,” the report states.
The discussion focused on fostering a broader culture within society, starting in childhood. The need for collaboration between schools, sports, primary care, local government, and other organizations, as well as ensuring equal access to health services for all citizens.
Special mention was made of the need to increase investment in prevention. It was noted that in Cyprus, only about 2% of the annual health budget is spent on prevention, compared to an average of about 4% in Europe.
In her remarks, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Savia Orfanidou, stated that the issue of increasing spending on prevention would be examined as part of the work of the Parliamentary Health Committee. At the same time, she highlighted the importance of promoting physical activity and healthy eating in schools.
In his remarks, Dr. Pavlos Drakos stressed the need to strengthen cancer prevention efforts, noting that a significant increase in new cancer cases is expected in the coming years. He placed particular emphasis on combating smoking and strictly enforcing the anti-smoking law in places such as schools, parks, and sports facilities.
For his part, Dr. Nikos Middleton spoke of the need to redefine the concept of prevention, the shift from a purely biomedical model to a more behavioral and social model, and the use of research to select, adapt, and evaluate effective interventions. He emphasized that practices implemented internationally can be utilized in Cyprus, but they must be adapted to the specific realities of Cyprus.
Dr. Konstantinos Pattichis highlighted the role of the new electronic health record as an important tool for utilizing and linking health data, with the aim of improving service delivery and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Agis Tsouros addressed the need to redefine the concept of disease prevention and adopt modern strategies for managing chronic diseases. Dr. Tsouros emphasized that health is greatly influenced by factors outside the traditional healthcare system. He placed particular emphasis on the social determinants of health and on health inequalities.
Source: CNA
