ALITHIA: “Ridiculing Cypriot Patients”. There is chaos in the Ministry of Health once again, due to complaints over irregularities by pharmaceutical companies on the one hand, while groups of patients are protesting over medicine shortages while others are complaining over the Ministry’s decision not to give drugs to young patients. Meanwhile cancer patients are roaming the streets taking signatures and asking that the Bank of Cyprus oncology centre not be closed down.
HARAVGHI: “Kofi Annan Returns”. The Cyprus problem must be solved, says the UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan, who also stated that new talks were in the works but are at an early stage. Sending an envoy to Cyprus at this stage is not certain at this moment in time, Annan said. However there is the possibility of an invitation, for both sides to go to New York to discuss the way ahead, the paper said.
SIMERINI: “Drug laundry! Everyone Knew!”. Everyone has known for some time now about the illegal procedures by the state’s pharmaceutical services, as it is being admitted after the Marinos Sizopoulos revelations. Although the illegalities are out in the open, they have not stopped and now are all spilling out like an avalanche. Eleni Theocharous has described the situation as a “drug laundry” in public, while Athina Kyriakidou has reported that a drug that was deemed ineffective had now been shipped as medical aid to another country.
MACHI: “The inhumane face of the state in all its glory”. While the wife sits in jail for unpaid debts, her large refugee family is in danger of being thrown out, the paper said. The cancer-stricken mother with a child who has been in a wheelchair for 13 years is desperately seeking the state’s help but instead she and her husband are being chased by the authorities, who are looking to throw them in prison for unpaid debts due to poverty and the meagre welfare benefits.
POLITIS: “Catholic Goodbyes”. The crowds of people praying at the Vatican yesterday was so large that the Holy See was forced to refuse entrance to many new people. On Friday the final goodbye to Pope John Paul II will be given by four kings, five queens, 70 presidents and prime ministers and 14 leaders of other religions along with about two million Catholics.
PHILELEFTHEROS: “Unsuitable Meats in the National Guard”. Beef that was meant for soldiers was deemed inedible, the paper said. The unsuitability of the meat was discovered after tests by National Guard veterinarians. Following the National Guard’s tests those by the Veterinarian Services confirmed the unsuitability of the meat. The beef was imported. The reports were confirmed by both the chairman of the Defence Ministry Petros Kareklas and the chairman of the Veterinarian Services Phidias Loukaides.
