MPS yesterday said it was highly unlikely that the National Health Scheme (NHS) would be up and running by 2012, despite claims to the contrary by the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO).
Speaking after the House Health Committee had discussed the Organisation’s budget, deputies said preparations for the NHS were moving at a “snail’s pace” and deemed its 2012 implementation at the least “ambitious”.
“It has emerged that the NHS in Cyprus, with the most ambitious predictions, will start operating in the first half of 2012,” said DISY MP Andreas Kyprianou. “Nothing has been computerised, almost no discussions have been held with private doctors, state hospitals have not been made autonomous and no discussions have been held with the unions about the increase in costs, which according to estimations are expected to increase by 12 per cent.”
He said the organisation had been asked to present specific planning and timeframes in next Thursday’s Committee meeting, “so we can set a date that will at least be believable”.
Kyprianou added, “Things aren’t good at all”.
Stella Mishaouli of AKEL was equally dismissive. “Despite the fact we were expecting all plans to be submitted today, we were given nothing,” she said. “We feel we shouldn’t be talking of implementation dates until we are absolutely certain, because people are tired of hearing dates that are unfeasible.”
However, HIO Chairman Kyriakos Christophi insisted 2012 was feasible, if everything goes to plan and there are no unexpected hitches.
“We have a timeframe, which was approved by the government, for the second half of 2011,” said Christophi. “Our predictions are this may need to be moved to a later date. If there are no unexpected delays, we believe it is feasible for the scheme to be fully implemented in the first half of 2012.”
He said the Organisation had estimated it will take another 16 to 18 months to complete preparations.
Regarding the cost of the NHS, Christophi said its implementation would cost around €1 billion.
“We have explained to Parliament, and it is good to make this known, the costs of the NHS; for which a great fuss has been created lately, with claims that it will intensify the effects of the financial crisis,” Christophi explained. “Based on the Statistical Department, around €1 billion is spent by the Cypriot public for health reasons a year – half of that is paid by the state and the other half by the public privately.”
He said the operation of the NHS and the amounts received from the tenders will return the same amount of money to the Organisation’s Health Fund.
“So we won’t be spending money; the same will be given back and will cover all the needs of patients, their hospital visits, clinical tests and pharmaceuticals,” said Christophi. “No money will be paid by civilians; it will be funded by the Organisation’s Health Fund.”
