Newly-appointed Health Minister Popi Kanari has withdrawn a bill under amendment allowing public hospital plastic surgeons to also carry out aesthetic operations at private sector clinics.
And this has angered both lawmakers and Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) representatives who said this “incomprehensible” move deprives the state of an estimated €1.5million annually.
The withdrawal apparently took place before the Minister even discussed the issue with the parties involved, Philenews also reported on Friday.
The relevant provision had been submitted to Parliament by Kanaris’ predecessor who believed public hospital surgeons should have the right to also carry cosmetic operations, just like their colleagues in the private sector.
The issue was scheduled to come under discussion by the House Health Committee on Thursday but the representative of the Ministry of Health informed the members just before the meeting was to convene that the Minister had decided to withdraw the bill.
Because the Minister has other priorities as far as state hospitals go, for example the better operation of first aid departments for which the government is flooded with complaints, the report also said.
