Employers and medical bodies have warned that patients are being “held hostage” by trade union pressures, as debate intensifies over the employment of nurses from third countries in Cyprus.
The Federation of Employers and Industrialists, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, the Pancyprian Medical Association, and rehabilitation centres have all criticised delays in advancing legislative amendments aimed at addressing the shortage of nursing staff.
The postponement of the discussion in parliament has triggered strong reactions within the private healthcare sector, with stakeholders already considering their next steps.
The decision to avoid reopening the debate ahead of elections is closely linked to strong opposition from nursing trade unions, which firmly reject the proposed bill. At the same time, criticism from private healthcare providers has intensified.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Employers and Industrialists Federation warned that patients and the healthcare sector cannot be “hostage to union pressures”, expressing concern over the inability to take decisions that could help address staffing shortages.
The organisation’s director general, Michalis Antoniou, also raised the issue in an intervention on state radio, criticising the stance of the House of Representatives.
He warned that understaffing is not limited to private hospitals but affects a broader network of healthcare providers, with consequences ultimately borne by patients.
Calls for solutions
The Pancyprian Medical Association echoed these concerns, with its president Petros Agathangelou stating that the shortage of nurses is a real and pressing issue.
“Trade unionism is one thing, but allowing problems to grow in its name is another,” he told Politis, adding that recruiting staff from abroad could form part of the solution to ease pressure on the system.
Pressure on rehabilitation centres
The problem extends beyond private hospitals to other healthcare structures, including rehabilitation centres.
According to Costas Ioulianos, spokesperson for the Association of Rehabilitation and Recovery Centres, facilities are facing significant operational challenges due to the shortage of nursing staff.
Following the adoption of legislation regulating rehabilitation centres, facilities currently seeking licences are required to submit staffing plans within three months.
“How can I present a staffing plan when I do not have the necessary number of nurses?” he said.
He warned that insufficient staffing affects both the quality and quantity of services that can be provided.
“Today, around 500 nurses are missing from clinical settings. This number could reach or exceed 800 when rehabilitation needs are also taken into account,” he added.
He stressed that while maintaining quality standards, measures and flexibility are needed to address shortages, noting that “trade unionism cannot stand in the way of upgrading and expanding healthcare services for patients”.
Legislative changes under debate
The proposed bill would remove the requirement for postgraduate qualifications for nurses from third countries, while at the same time raising the required level of Greek language proficiency from basic to intermediate.
In light of recent developments, the Employers and Industrialists Federation is expected to convene a broad meeting of healthcare stakeholders in the coming days to determine next steps.
At the same time, reports indicate that pressure is being exerted on the parliamentary Health Committee to place the issue back on its agenda, with discussions potentially taking place as early as Thursday.