In a lengthy memorandum, the Federation of Patients' Associations of Cyprus went to the offices of the Health Insurance Organization, asking in a very strong manner for a speech and a role in decision-making regarding the service of patients in the General Health System, pointing out the problems in the field of medicines and demanded information on the ongoing process concerning the preparation of protocols for the various medical specialties.
At the same time, on the occasion of the recent complaints for violation of the personal data of beneficiaries of GESS, OSAK requested the protection of the citizens through the correct information on the way in which they should behave during their service by the Health service providers of the System. In this regard, the representatives of the organized patients were informed by the OAU that an announcement is being prepared with which the beneficiaries of GESS will be invited to prefer to use their political identity when visiting pharmacies, clinics, diagnostic centers, clinics and .λπ. so that they are not obliged in the presence of third parties and unknown persons to say orally their identity number and date of birth, risking someone to steal them and then use them illegally.
During the meeting, the spokesman of OSAK Dimitris Lamprianidis told "F", "we discussed this issue which we consider very important. We must say, of course, that from the beginning of the implementation of the GESS this practice was defined but was not applied in practice. Citizens should be aware that the information required to access a service provider is included in their political ID, ie ID number and date of birth, and therefore if they simply present their identity, the pharmacist, for example, will be able to access software and will serve them without any problem and without having to say their personal data orally in the presence of third parties ".
For this issue, as reported by information of "F", OAY will issue a relevant announcement in the coming days.
Regarding the other issues discussed during the meeting of OSAK with OAY, Mr. Lamprianidis referred to the request of the organized patients to have a say but also timely information on decisions taken by the Organization "and related to the service the patients".
Many times, said Mr. Lambrianidis, "a decision is made, which is related to the way in which patients receive services from GESS, this decision is implemented and patients begin to communicate with the various patient associations asking for explanations or clarifications and the links do not know what to answer them because they are not informed ". In addition, "decisions are taken with which we do not agree, so we pointed out the fact that it would be better to participate in whatever processes are done in order to prevent moves from the beginning which are then found to need to be corrected."
In addition, OSAK requested "the promotion of the procedures for the preparation of protocols in cooperation, of course, with the scientific companies of doctors", "we pointed out", said Mr. Lambrianidis "the fact that internationally there are protocols which are applied and these protocols we can take them and in cooperation with the scientific companies to adapt them to the Cypriot data ".
Other issues discussed were "issues concerning the operation of the Accident and Emergency Departments in relation to the preparation for their inclusion in the GESS, issues concerning the procedures of the System's drugs and the second phase of the GESS, issues concerning the software , such as patients being able to see in their file all those who have access to it, etc. " Finally, the issue of setting "quality criteria" was discussed and OAY and OSAK agreed that the quality criteria for the services of GESS are an issue "which must be addressed with care and seriousness but without further delays".
The issue of accessibility is serious
Special mention was made by OSAK on issues related to the accessibility of clinics, pharmacies, clinical laboratories and diagnostic centers to people with mobility disabilities. "We asked if it is possible, in the data of the health care providers, as they appear in the System electronically, to have an indication of accessibility or a photo to let the people with mobility problems know if they can contact the specific provider or not." At the moment, said Mr. Lambrianidis, "many times people with mobility problems, the elderly go to a doctor's office and find that they do not have access because the building is accessible. "At least in the cases of the clinics, reference should be made to whether they are accessible or not, because now patients often suffer." As OSAK, concluded Mr. Lamprianidis, "we suggested that accessibility be included in the quality criteria to be determined by the OAU".
Source: philenews