The Ministry of Health has submitted a draft law for legal scrutiny to the Legal Service, which provides for the establishment and operation of the Patient Advocate institution in Cyprus.
This was revealed during a press conference on the occasion of the completion of one year of Nicos Christodoulides’ governance by Health Minister Michalis Damianos.
During the previous period, as we are informed, the Health Minister and his collaborators processed everything that had been put up for consultation over at least the last six years and arrived at the final text which, according to Michalis Damianos, will be submitted to Parliament within the next month.
It is recalled that the changes made by the Ministry of Health two years ago in this specific draft law had provoked strong reactions from organised patients, who then spoke of “undermining” the Patient Advocate institution.
At the conference, the Health Minister also referred to the draft law concerning the operation of rehabilitation and therapy centres.
As he said, there has been re-consultation with all involved bodies on the draft law that was submitted to Parliament in June 2023 and subsequently withdrawn, and “re-submission is expected next June.”
Regarding the draft law concerning the operation of University Hospitals and University Clinics, the Health Minister stated that it “is in the re-consultation stage with all involved bodies before submission for legal scrutiny to the Legal Service.” Resubmission of the draft law to Parliament is expected within 2024.
The draft law regulating the profession of paramedics (ambulance crews) has been submitted to the Legal Service for legal scrutiny. Submission to Parliament is expected next June.
Meanwhile, within 2024, it is expected that draft laws, which have also been pending for many years and concern: palliative care services, clinical laboratories, the operation of doctors’ and dentists’ offices, hospitals, and diagnostic centres, will be submitted to Parliament.
Regarding the draft law on the operation of ambulances and the establishment of a competent Authority, the Health Minister stated that its submission to Parliament is planned within the year.
It is recalled that for this specific draft law, the Health Minister had stated in his statements last week that the issue is under study by the Government.
Recall that intense disagreements had arisen in the summer of 2023 on this specific issue between the Ministries of Health and Finance.
