Next week a meeting will be scheduled with the OAU and the Minister of Finance.
It is not the government's intention under any circumstances either to touch the fund of the General Health System, nor to cut off funds from the health sector, explained on Friday the Minister of Health, Dr. Popi Kanari, when asked to comment on yesterday's complaints by OSAK. which spoke of the risk of using the GeSY fund for other purposes.
In her statements, after the visit she made to the General Hospital of Nicosia, Dr. Kanari said that the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, has already twice invited both the OAU and the OKYpY to meetings, so that they can see what needs to be improved, since the government's goal is quality criteria in the health system.
In relation to the complaints about the budget and the withholding of the funds of the National Health Service, as well as today's answer of the Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, that the money that has not yet been given to the OAU for the 56 positions is because the statutes have not yet been filed and his budgets, the Minister of Health replied that "the will of the Government is not to cut anything from the funds of the NHS".
"This can also be seen from the budget we submitted for 2024, which is increased by 14%. Some funds that were not included in the budget now concern issues, which we have now been asked to manage and will be included in the supplementary budget", said the Minister of Health.
He also said that next week a meeting will be scheduled with the OAU and the Minister of Finance.
However, he noted that the Ministry believes that there are needs in the OAU for staff.
More focus on upgrading health services
Earlier, the Minister of Health visited the clinics of the Nicosia General Hospital on the occasion of the arrival of the new year.
"With the coming of the new year," he said, "we wanted to give a note of hope to the patients, but also support to the staff to be armored with strength to cope with the difficult circumstances and these are hardly frequent in such a profession, to give the wishes to all of us for a better 2024".
According to the Minister of Health there is a lot to be done in 2024, to note that the efforts of everyone in the health sector are to focus on upgrading health services even more and attitudes towards patients.
On the occasion of her visit, she said that Nicosia General Hospital has excellent services and clinics, noting that already nine clinics and five clinical laboratories are accredited.
He also said that there are also accredited clinics and laboratories in Makarios and this proves the level of services.
Our efforts, he said, "are to upgrade services and I believe these efforts will be more intensive in 2024."