State hospitals to have their own management and budget

THE LEGISLATION concerning the autonomy of state hospitals is in its final stages, as part of the implementation of the General Health Plan.
The legislation states that each hospital will be run by its own board and have its own budget, which will be approved by the state.

Soon it will be finalised and brought forward to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Health Minister Andreas Gavrielides assured all hospital staff that they had nothing to worry about, as their regime would remain the same and any changes would be discussed with the trade unions before they were enforced.

According to the minister, the legislation involves all hospitals that are within the Health Plan.

“As far as the associates are concerned, there shouldn’t be an issue as each hospital, whether it’s private or public, will be offering competitive services in the frame of the Plan.”

Gavrielides also went on to say that staff would remain as they were until the subject had been discussed with the trade unions.

The pending autonomy legislation will also have an effect on the managing board of the Ministry of Health, as its services will have to be restructured.
According to Gavrielides, a proposal in this direction was already being prepared for the Council of Ministers in line with research that had been carried out by English universities.

The minister concluded: “I believe that at the latest by November we will have to hand in our restructuring proposal to the Council of Ministers, as we will not be able to correspond with the new needs that the application of the Health Plan and the legislation of autonomy will bring.”

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