Students at the University of Cyprus School of Medicine are organizing a protest on Thursday, November 5, at 10:30 a.m., outside the House of Representatives, to express their strong opposition to provisions in the bill currently under debate regarding the establishment of University Clinics and University Hospitals, which, they argue, undermine the educational and scientific nature of these institutions.
According to a related announcement, the establishment of University Clinics and Hospitals is a long-standing demand of the university community and a necessary prerequisite for the advancement of medical education, scientific research, and the health services provided in Cyprus. However, the passage of a bill cannot be an end in itself if its content does not ensure the necessary quality standards.
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The students emphasize that the bill under discussion, in its current form, raises serious concerns regarding the ability to establish truly functional university hospitals capable of adequately fulfilling their threefold mission: education, research, and the provision of high-quality medical care.
In this context, student representatives from the University of Cyprus School of Medicine have submitted a memorandum calling for the reinstatement of two fundamental principles in the bill:
- One main medical school per hospital.
The Primary Medical School should retain substantive educational and research responsibility and be the sole entity authorized to establish University and Affiliated Clinics at that specific hospital. This provision does not preclude collaboration with other medical schools, but aims to ensure a unified educational plan, a clear allocation of responsibilities, and the coherence of clinical education.
- Minimum staffing of each University Clinic with three university physicians
The provision for staffing a University Clinic with only one university physician cannot, in the students’ view, guarantee scientific competence, the continuity of clinical training, and the meaningful development of research activities. The presence of at least three university physicians is a fundamental prerequisite for fulfilling the academic and clinical mission of such a unit.
The students emphasize that these specific demands are not an attempt to obstruct the reform. On the contrary, they aim to ensure its success and prevent the creation of structures that would bear the title “University Clinic” without actually meeting the necessary educational and scientific standards.
“This issue does not concern only medical students or the university community. It concerns Cypriot society as a whole, as the existence of genuine University Clinics is directly linked to the advancement of medical research, the training of future doctors, and the continuous improvement of the quality of patient care,” as the students emphasize.
As they add, “Health is everyone’s concern. The quality of medical education and the quality of health services provided are inextricably linked and cannot be compromised.”
Through their mobilization, the students are calling on the House of Representatives and all relevant authorities to reconsider the provisions in question and make the necessary amendments, ensuring a modern and functional legislative framework that will truly serve medical education, scientific progress, and public health.
“Cyprus does not simply need more clinics with university status. It needs true university hospitals and medical centers, engaged in meaningful educational, research, and clinical work. The quality of medical education and patient care is non-negotiable.”
