Cyprus’ cabinet passes National Health Scheme draft bill

Two draft bills dealing with the autonomy of the Cypriot state hospitals were approved by the cabinet on Friday.

President Nicos Anastasiades had previously announced that the draft bills would be passed during a ground-breaking ceremony held at the Latsia Medical Centre in Nicosia.

In his statements of two days ago, President Anastasiades expressed his satisfaction that after approximately two decades the National Health Scheme (NHS) has seen the convergence of all the political forces of the island.

The ball in the court of the political parties

After the cabinet meetings, Health Minister George Pamborides said that he was in a position to announce that the two draft bills for the reform in the health sector (NHS, autonomy of the state hospitals) had been passed and would now be heading to parliament.

The Health Minister mentioned that the ball is in the court of the political parties to discuss the two draft bills.

Pamborides said that the process had started in September, when he consulted with all parties on the matter, and recorded all their positions for the draft bills. He added that now it is in the hands of the political parties to pass the two bills through the parliament.

The position of the political party leaders

Asked how long he thinks this will take, Pamborides said that he could not estimate the time required, or comment on how long it might take for the positions of all those involved to be recorded.

Pamborides did add, however, that he remained positive that the draft bills would be passed after taking into account the position of the political party leaders.

“All is dependent on the length of time parliament takes to decide on the matter. I have noticed that there has been a study on the issue by all parties, who recognise the gravity of the moment in speeding up the process,” he said.