As the General Health System (GHS) evolves and matures, the challenges that arise must be met through cooperation with targeted actions and solutions that respond to the needs of citizens, said the Minister of Health, Michalis Damianos, on Thursday. He was speaking at a scientific conference co-organized by the Cyprus Patient Associations Federation (OSAC) and EUPATI Cyprus (European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation) on "Bridging the gaps in health: safety, rights and innovation", held in Nicosia.
Mr. Damianos underlined that the NHS is one of the most important reforms that Cyprus has carried out, indicating that the goal of the NHS is to ensure the access of all citizens to quality health services, without discrimination, regardless of income, social status or any other characteristic.
"Despite the success of this great change, there are also challenges that require continued collaboration, insight and adaptation," said the Minister of Health, adding that in this context today's discussion centers around gaps in health, safety, patient rights and innovation, which are, as he noted, extremely topical issues.
"As the NHS evolves and matures as a health system, we must face the challenges that arise with targeted actions and solutions that respond to the needs of citizens," he said.
He also indicated that cooperation is necessary in order to implement the common goals to strengthen health services, while he noted that it is necessary to introduce guidelines, to recognize centers of reference and excellence, to create the National Documentation Center, to strengthen the institution of the Ombudsman Patients, as well as the introduction of legislative regulations and the modernization of existing legislation. "Some of these policies have already been implemented, while others are under implementation," he said.
Furthermore, Mr. Damianos pointed out that the continuous upgrading of the health system requires a collective effort, which requires the cooperation of all involved bodies, health professionals, the Health Insurance Organization, OKYpY, but also the support of the Ministry of Health and the State as a whole.
"However, a key condition for the success of this effort is cooperation with the patients themselves", said the Minister of Health, noting that for this reason, "OSAK is one of our main partners, with common goals and vision".
"Our cooperation with OSAK is based on the common understanding of the need to protect and strengthen patients' rights", he noted and added that OSAK, with its work, highlights the challenges faced by patients and ensures that their voice is heard with clarity and strength, contributing decisively to the development and implementation of health policies that respond to the real needs of citizens.
"As the Ministry of Health, we remain committed to strengthening this partnership in order to continue moving forward together in strengthening the General Health System and ensuring the best possible care for all," said Mr. Damianos.
For his part, the President of OSAK, Charalambos Papadopoulos, said that this conference is not only a meeting for the exchange of scientific knowledge and experiences, but is a living confirmation of the commitment to the continuous search for innovative solutions, reflection and contribution to the national effort to bridge the gaps in health sector always for the benefit of all citizens and especially patients.
"Health is a fundamental right and every citizen deserves access to quality and safe health services, without discrimination and without barriers," said Mr. Papadopoulos.
"At OSAK we understand that the safety of the patient and his rights are two interrelated concepts", added the President of OSAK, noting that access to safe, modern and reliable medical services, the assurance of quality health care, but also the protection of rights of patients is vital to the provision of an integrated and reliable health system.
"As a body that represents the voices of patients, we promote the need for meaningful policies and systems that will ensure the best possible conditions for their care," he noted.
The President of EUPATI Cyprus Suzi Makri in her taped message stated that EUPATI Cyprus is a non-profit organization whose main mission is to provide education and training to patients in order to empower them and prepare them to take an active role in all phases of their drug research and development, as well as patient advocacy.
According to the program of the conference, the theme covers three sessions with distinguished speakers on topics covering patient safety, patients' rights and modern approaches to health care.
Source: KYPE