GOVERNMENT doctors yesterday nearly came to blows during a closed House Health Committee session, with MPs expressing shock at the medics “appalling behaviour”.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it. They were swearing and screaming at each other… they nearly came to blows,” one MP said after the meeting on condition of anonymity because it was a closed session.
The fight was sparked by disagreements between the doctors of Nicosia and Limassol General Hospitals’ Cardiology Units.
Their differences mainly concerned working hours and the units’ operation, as well as certain doctors’ refusal to be transferred to the Limassol unit.
Committee Chairman Costas Constantinou of DISY said the session highlighted the operational problems faced by the two units, which are a direct result of the doctors’ warring.
“We pleaded with the Health Ministry’s new Permanent Secretary [Dionysis Mavronicolas] to find solutions to these problems as soon as possible,” said Constantinou.
He avoided giving a clear response on whether these disagreements were effectively putting lives at risk.
“The problems between the doctors are preventing the unit from operating smoothly. If they didn’t exist, things would be better for patients,” said Constantinou. “If we take into consideration that doctors have opposing views on vital matters, as well as the long waiting lists, it is possible – though this wasn’t mentioned – that it could lead to serious problems for patients.”
“There wasn’t exactly a discussion; more like an exchange of accusations and insults between the doctors,” said DIKO deputy Stelios Ieronimides. “Thankfully, [Committee Chairman] Mr Constantinou intervened and managed to calm things down enough for the discussion to continue.
He said the conclusion was that the problems between the doctors had an adverse effect on the Nicosia and Limassol units.
“Heart patients have expressed their despair over the doctors’ behaviour. This needs to be resolved,” Ieronimides said.
The Committee also discussed recent allegations that a paediatrician was administering unnecessary vaccinations to children.
According to Ieronimides, government doctors’ union PASYKI views these accusations as being among the most serious that doctors have faced to date.
DISY deputy Stella Kyriakidou added: “we were informed by PASYKI on the recent allegations over unnecessary vaccinations by a paediatrician. It is unacceptable that such a serious investigation is still pending months after coming to light.
Kyriakidou called for a swift conclusion to the inquiry “not only because it is a serious matter and of great concern to parents, but also a doctor is under accusation.”
