Deadline for feared Gesy upset passes without incident

Despite a big to-do in parliament last week, no party has tabled an amendment to upcoming legislation relating to the national health scheme (Gesy).

The deadline for submitting amendments was 12pm, Monday. None had been tabled by the cut-off point.

Controversy erupted last week amid allegations that Diko and Edek were seeking to scupper Gesy at the last moment.

An MP from ruling Disy claimed Diko and Edek planned to co-sponsor an amendment proposing to suspend for three years the autonomy of state hospitals.

Administrative and financial autonomy of state hospitals is a stepping stone to – and thus an integral component of – Gesy.

Earlier, Health Minister Giorgos Pamboridis had tweeted that vested interests were making a last-gasp effort to torpedo the national health scheme.

Two government bills relating to Gesy, as well as the accompanying regulations, are set to go before the House plenary this Friday.

One of the government bills creates the institutional and operational framework for a national health scheme; the second bill provides for the establishment of a single public-law entity responsible for the operation of all public hospitals and primary healthcare providers.

The bills have the necessary parliamentary support and are expected to pass.

 

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