“Significant progress has been made, but challenges remain,” Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said in the second part of his interview with Politis, outlining the picture he formed during visits to public hospitals.
He noted that the scientific competence and dedication of staff are not in question. However, the experience of patients, the state of infrastructure, as well as issues relating to organisation and staffing, continue to present ongoing challenges. Within this context, the autonomy of public hospitals by the end of 2026 remains a firm objective.
First impressions matter
According to the minister, the main difficulty does not lie in the quality of care itself, nor is there a lack of public trust in state hospitals.
“In serious cases, citizens turn to public hospitals, recognising the scientific expertise of medical, nursing and support staff,” he said. The issue, he added, is the image encountered by patients upon entering a hospital.
First impressions inevitably shape overall perceptions, making infrastructure upgrades a clear priority.
Charalambides referred to interventions already carried out at Limassol General Hospital, which were completed within a short timeframe and improved day-to-day conditions. The ministry intends to gradually extend this approach to other public hospitals.
He also noted that projects worth more than €145 million are currently underway across all public hospitals. These interventions, he said, aim not only to modernise facilities but also to improve everyday conditions for both patients and staff.
At the same time, he acknowledged that beyond building and technical upgrades, challenges remain in organisation, staffing in certain specialties, and the further modernisation of procedures and equipment. These areas, he said, require continued effort.
Autonomy equals flexibility
Hospital autonomy remains central to the reform of public healthcare, the minister said.
The process aims to enhance flexibility, efficiency and quality of services, with completion targeted by the end of 2026.
Asked whether the autonomy plan should proceed as designed or be reconsidered, Charalambides stressed that the objective must be achieved, describing autonomy as a key factor in strengthening hospital operations.
In his view, public hospitals have already made progress, but must continue adapting, both through infrastructure improvements and changes in how they operate.
Prevention takes centre stage
With hospital autonomy already underway—following reforms introduced in 2019 with the implementation of the General Healthcare System (GeSY)—the Ministry of Health has shifted from being a direct provider of services to a more strategic and supervisory role.
In this new framework, health policy planning and prevention are gaining increased importance.
The minister identified disease prevention as a core priority, with the aim of shifting the healthcare system from a purely treatment-based model to a more holistic one, placing greater emphasis on early diagnosis and prevention.
Population screening programmes are already in place, including breast cancer screening and colorectal cancer screening, while new initiatives targeting cervical and prostate cancer are also being promoted.
Through these measures, the ministry aims to strengthen preventive protection for the population.
Broader strategies are also part of the ministry’s agenda, including a National Mental Health Strategy, aimed at improving quality of life while reducing long-term pressure on the healthcare system.
“Prevention cannot be treated as a one-off action, but as a continuous investment and a consistent policy choice,” Charalambides said. “The goal is a healthcare system that operates proactively, intervenes early and actively protects the health of citizens.”
This article was originally published on the Greek-language Politis website.