Mr. Stylianou analyzed the expenditure of the funds, explaining that this year the Ministry of Health increased the state sponsorship by 600,000 euros
The budget of the Cyprus Addiction Treatment Authority (the Authority) is balanced for 2024, the Authority's Executive Director, Konstantinos Stylianou, said on Thursday before the Parliamentary Health Committee, where the debate on the authority's budget began. The Deputies of the Committee submitted questions to the Authority and requested that they be answered in writing, so that next week the article-by-article discussion could begin.
Mr. Stylianou, presenting the budget, said that it is the first year that the budget is balanced, unlike the previous years when it was in deficit. He made an analysis of the expenditure of the funds explaining that this year the Ministry of Health increased the state sponsorship by 600,000 euros.
The President of the Parliamentary Health Committee, DISY Member of Parliament, Efthymios Diplaros expressed after the session his satisfaction with the fact that the Authority's budget has increased by hundreds of thousands of euros, noting that for the first time this budget is not in deficit. He added that it is a balanced budget and the emphasis is mainly on enlightenment, while specific programs of recovery and addiction are subsidized, stating that "that is what is being asked for".
Mr. Diplaros stated that the discussion of the Authority's budget will continue, noting that questions have been asked by the Committee's MPs and will be answered at the next session, whereupon the article-by-article discussion of the budget will also take place.
The President of the Commission added that "we have appreciated the work carried out by the Authority and we will stand by its efforts because today, unfortunately, addictions are a scourge that should concern us all".
The Member of Parliament of AKEL, Marina Nikolaou, noted that "as AKEL we support the work carried out by the Authority, but also the people with problem of use and dependence as well as the families of these people who always suffer the consequences". Ms. Nikolaou pointed out that while the needs are increasing, unfortunately, there has been a drastic reduction in prevention programs saying that this is marked as a negative development.
He added that from AKEL's point of view, a series of issues were raised regarding the prevention and treatment of addictions, giving as an example the fact that since 2020 a psychiatrist has been hired for the methadone program, which is still expected to start. At the same time, Mrs. Nikolaou continued, the need to strengthen the programs in prisons was emphasized as well as the fact that there is unequal access of the imprisoned to these programs.
The MP of DIKO, Chrysanthos Savvidis, pointed out that for the first time since the establishment of the Authority, the budget is balanced and increased by 600,000 euros. He welcomed the decision of the Ministry of Health to increase the fund in order for the Authority to develop subsidized programs to deal with problems with addictions.
Mr. Savvidis made a reference to the forms of addiction, ringing the bell of children's addiction to electronic games. "This additional amount enables the Authority to develop and subsidize programs to address these addictions," he said.
The MP of DIPA-Cooperation of Democratic Forces, Michalis Giakoumi, said that the Authority's budget "leaves us very satisfied" as, as he said, it is balanced for the first time in years and is increased by 600,000 euros. He noted that as a Member of Parliament for Famagusta he has noticed that there is no preventive program in the free province of Famagusta saying that this is unacceptable and that it is something that was brought to the Authority.
Mr. Giakoumi said addictions are not only alcohol, gambling, smoking and especially drugs, but also internet and social media issues. Mr. Giakoumis added that the Authority stated that a Good Practice Guide is being prepared for this specific issue and that it is expected to be ready within the year.