HEALTH Minister Dina Akkelidou yesterday defended the government’s decision to shut down the Nicosia general hospital oncology centre.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference, which was scheduled at the last minute to comment on “accusations and characterisations” made against her, Akkelidou reiterated her belief that Health Ministry policies and programming could not be governed by emotion.
The minister was referring to the indefinite strike organised by the Committee of Cancer Patients and Relatives of the Oncology Centre at Nicosia general hospital outside the Presidential Palace, now in its 15th day. The committee is protesting over a government decision to shut down the capital’s cancer centre. But the government has said it was planning to build and operate a complete cancer centre at Limassol hospital and that the Bank of Cyprus (BoC) Oncology Centre in Nicosia would provide additional services. Also an outpatient clinic and day care treatment would be offered at the new Nicosia hospital when it opened next year.
Akkelidou said sentimentality had no place in policy-making as it worked against patients’ and the medical services.
“The BoC Oncology Centre has been working successfully for many years now in co-operation with the government. It also offers a very high standard of services when compared to many institutions abroad and, despite the fact that those patients are protesting now, the majority of them receive treatment from the BoC.”
Although the state does not currently have a radiology unit, following the breakdown of two machines at Nicosia hospital, the minister said a complete oncology centre was in the process of being set up in Limassol.
“It will include a radiology unit, an outpatient clinic with day care treatment and an inpatient ward. All other specialities will also be offered,” she said.
Akkelidou pointed out that cancer patients received free treatment in Cyprus and that patients did not suffer the long waiting lists common in other European hospitals. She also added that although a complete cancer centre would not be included in the new Nicosia hospital, the government would continue to upgrade and improve its cancer services.
“There is no limit in our aim to improve cancer services and we will co-ordinate and co-operate with other services to help protect patients and to ensure they receive the right treatment,” she said. “We are always willing to develop our policy and to take non-governmental organisations’ opinions on board.”
The Health Ministry and NGOs would keep their eyes and ears open, and the development of services would be continuous, she stressed.
“If we find problems, we’ll deal with them. We’ve already showed our commitment to prevention with the introduction of breast screening for women, which has showed that early intervention saves lives,” she said.
