Health care in Cyprus

Healthcare in Cyprus accounted for 7% of its GDP in 2014.[1] Between 2010 and 2014, health care spending increased from $1,705 per capita to $2,062 per capita.[2][3] Cyprus has a multi-payer health care system that consists of a public and private sector.[2] The public sector is funded by payroll, earnings taxes, and employer contributions.[2] The public sector healthcare provides social insurance for the employed, self-employed, and for several types of civil servant.[2]

Health Insurance

The current dual sector system is in the process of being replaced with a National Health System that aims to provide universal coverage.[4] The National Health System is estimated to save €292 million from 2016-2025 compared to the predicted expenditures of the current system.[4] The public health sector managed by the Ministry of Health provided free services to approximately 83% of the population.[5] Public coverage includes dental, mental health and pharmaceutical services, as well as general public health resources.[6]

The three government bills and regulations introducing the national health system, Gesy, were agreed by parliament on 16th June 2017. Is is to be fully operational by July 1, 2020.[7]

History

In 2013 Cyprus decided to establish a national health care system, with support from creditors of the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, and European Commission.[8] The National Health System is predicted to increase coordination, reduce waste, and be more fiscally responsible.[4] Inefficiencies in the system include overlapping services between the public and private health service providers and “poor communication and coordination” between the sectors.[6] Cyprus ranks the highest among European Union nations on out-of-pocket health spending.[6][9] Public healthcare operates with the state’s Ministry of Health providing control and funding.[6] Cyprus outperforms the EU average of dentists per capita (91 for every 100,000 people) and underperforms in pharmacists per capita (21 for every 100,000 people).[6]

George Pamporidis, the Minister of Health, announced in September 2015 that he intended to establish a National Health Service by 2017. He has previously pledged to clear our corruption in Cyprus' public hospitals.[10] Establishment of an operational NHS was a promise Cyprus made as part of the bailout programme with the Troika of international lenders. Pamporidis proposed a 2% special tax (1% for employers and 1% for employees) to finance a "mini-NHS".[11]


The Euro health consumer index ranked Cyprus 26th of 35 European countries in 2015, commenting that it did not really have a public healthcare system in the general European meaning of the term. [12]

Okyy

Sir David Nicholson was appointed chairman of the newly-established State Health Services Organisation (Okyy) in 2018.[13]

Hospitals

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Data and Statistics". WHO/Europe. World Health Organization.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Boslaugh, Sarah (2013). Health Care Systems around the World: A Comparative Guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. pp. 122–124. ISBN 978-1452203126.
  3. ↑ "Cyprus". World Health Organization. World Health Organization.
  4. 1 2 3 "ACTUARIAL STUDY OF CYPRUS NATIONAL HEALTH EXPENDITURE AND NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM" (PDF). Health Insurance Organization. Mercer.
  5. ↑ ""Coverage for health care"". Health at a Glance: Europe 2016: State of Health in the EU Cycle: 153. 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) - Cyprus" (PDF). WHO Regional Office for Europe. World Health Organization. 2014.
  7. ↑ "Health system bills unanimously approved, 'historic day'". Cyprus Mail. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Kanavos, Wouters, Panos, Olivier (2016). "Enabling Health-care Reform in the Republic of Cyprus" (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science. London School of Economics and Political Science.
  9. ↑ "Health at a Glance: Europe 2016: State of Health in the EU Cycle". http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-at-a-glance-europe-2016_9789264265592-en. OECD Publishing. 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  10. ↑ "'I'm no Robin Hood', but health reforms a must, says minister". Cyprus Mail. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "Mini-NHS is a crucial move". In Cyprus. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Outcomes in EHCI 2015" (PDF). Health Consumer Powerhouse. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Our View: New government must brace for a battle with doctors". Cyprus Mail. 14 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
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