Delays over introducing a National Health Scheme due to crisis

THE TIME is not yet right for implementation of the National Health Scheme (NHS), President Demetris Christofias said yesterday speaking to the press to mark his three years in power.

Asked when the national scheme would finally be implemented, given that the EU directive on cross-border health care would soon come into effect, he said only when it was possible could the NHS begin to work.

“For the NHS to be implemented, this presupposes not only contribution from the government but also from employers and the average citizen,” said the president.

“You can imagine how they will react” if citizens were asked to make such a contribution during these times of crisis, he said.

“Health costs are huge. At the moment, 85 per cent of the people of Cyprus essentially have free access to state hospitals and clinics. That is the reality.”

Christofias acknowledged that the health system, as it stands today, “has reached the end of its tether and needs revision”.

“When we have the capability, we will do this,” he said, adding that just because the present government was considered “progressive” did not mean it could act irrationally and implement a new health scheme.

“What shall we do? Get new loans from abroad?” he asked.

“The economic crisis has created some problems and forced us to suspend certain election pledges we made,” he said, noting that he has not given up on those pledges.