Demo over cancer ward closure

Cancer patients and their relatives yesterday demonstrated against the government’s decision to close down the Nicosia General Hospital’s cancer ward.

The demonstration took place outside the House of Representatives yesterday morning where protesters held placards calling on the government to reverse its decision.
The Patients Committee said the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre offered important services, but that it could not meet the cancer needs of Nicosia.

Although the committee welcomed the opening of Limassol’s oncology and radiotherapy unit, whereby specialised doctors will work, it condemned Health Minister Dina Akkelidou for presenting the House and her Ministry with the incorrect information that “55 per cent of all cancer patients were supposedly from the Limassol and Paphos districts” in order to suit their designs.

The committee also accused the General Hospital of purposely failing to move forward with the repair of radiotherapy equipment so as to force the dissolution of the oncology unit.

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