Every year, hundreds of young people choose one of the country's medical schools. What continues to be missing is the essential link connecting the lecture hall with the patient, theory with everyday medical practice, and education with research. Despite the operation of four universities or university branches with a Faculty of Medicine, Cyprus remains the only country in the European Union with a public medical school that lacks institutionalised university clinics and a university hospital. This is a matter that has been under discussion since 2013, without having so far resulted in an implemented model.
Beyond practical training
University clinics are not simply spaces where medical students carry out their practical training. They form the essential link connecting teaching with everyday medical practice, scientific research and the development of new treatments. The presence of university clinics also affects universities' own ability to attract highly specialised academic doctors and scientists from abroad.
Benefit for patients
The creation of university clinics is not only a matter for students and universities. It is directly linked to the upgrading of the health system and the services provided to patients. Internationally, university clinics often take on complex cases and develop specialised medical services. In Cyprus, several treatments continue to be unavailable, or available only to a limited extent. The development of university clinics could gradually strengthen the specialised services offered within the country and reduce the need to send patients abroad.
University clinics also serve as centres for the development of research and innovation. For a small country like Cyprus, linking universities with the health system can help make better use of scientific personnel and create new fields of specialisation. It could also help curb the departure of young doctors and researchers, who currently seek abroad the opportunities for academic and clinical advancement that do not exist to the same degree in Cyprus.
Back to parliament
"The bill on university clinics has evolved into a long-running game of ping-pong between the Ministry of Health and Parliament." It is currently back before the Health Committee, which is expected to examine it as a priority when its work resumes in mid-September.
Health Committee chair Savvia Orfanidou tells "P" that university clinics are among the bills that will be examined as a priority. "We will resume discussion in the Committee in mid-September. Some preparatory steps will be taken beforehand, and once discussion begins, efforts will be made to find the middle ground," she says.
She makes clear, however, that even if no agreement is reached among all the parties involved, the process cannot remain indefinitely pending. "Even if the middle ground is not found, the bill must be brought before the plenary of the House, and parliament must decide," she notes.
She stresses that "it is by no means a source of pride for Cyprus that we are the only country in the European Union without university clinics."
