University clinics bill returns to House after seven months

The bill to set up university clinics returns to the House Health Committee on Thursday, October 8, seven months after it was last discussed and two weeks later than planned. Phileleftheros understands that the Health Ministry has not ruled out further amendments before then, in another attempt to narrow the disagreements between the parties involved as far as possible. At least seven health ministers have tried to bring the bill to a conclusion. The current minister, Neophytos Charalambides, has already held another round of talks with the social partners, and those talks caused the two-week delay. Where the sides stand Until last spring, public and private hospitals were at odds over the allocation of medical specialties. Public-sector unions disagreed with the Health Ministry over the proposed operating model for the clinics, and there also appear to be broader disagreements between the state and private sectors on some points. The unions have voiced the strongest objections, and their positions do not appear to have changed in almost 12 years. They say they do not oppose university clinics as such, but object to provisions of the proposed model. Their red line is any cut in hospital doctors’ posts in favour of academic posts. They have also raised concerns about career progression and the standing of State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) doctors within the new structures. Private hospitals complained at the last discussion of the bill that the proposed model discourages university clinics in the private sector. Their red line is the right to train specialist trainee doctors, while the SHSO probably disagrees with extending specialty training beyond state hospitals. Phileleftheros understands that the SHSO has not yet voiced concerns publicly, but the possible cost of university clinics to public hospitals is being discussed behind the scenes, mainly the benefits of academic doctors. This issue does not appear likely to cause serious problems for the bill’s progress. Patients’ federation The Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (CyFPA) has called on all sides to work together so that the real interests of Cypriot patients prevail. Its president, Miltos Miltiadous, told Phileleftheros that the training of specialist doctors is very important and directly linked to patients’ access to the care they need. So is Cyprus gradually gaining more independence in this area, so that it can fill large gaps in some medical specialties. Specialist training in Cyprus currently runs under an intergovernmental agreement with Greece. Clinics in Cyprus recognised for training follow the corresponding Greek specialty programmes. Doctors who complete their training under the system go through the required procedures and exams in Greece to obtain their specialist title. For specialties not offered in Cyprus, Cypriot doctors train in Greece depending on the availability of posts there, which often discourages them. Miltiadous said Cyprus is short of doctors in certain specialties, leading among other things to waiting lists, and “anything that can help serve patients must be among our priorities”. He also said a country with medical schools but no university hospitals certainly cannot develop as it should, missing out on research and its benefits, as well as independence. The federation’s position is that university clinics should not be seen only as a matter of clinical training for medical students or cooperation between universities and hospitals. It sees them as a tool to improve medical training and, in turn, services to patients. A long history Different versions of the bill have been drafted, changed or sent back for fresh consultation over the years because of disagreements. A new round of talks began in 2024, with the sides’ positions still apart, and the Cabinet approved the bill in February 2025. The House debate in March confirmed that the differences had not been bridged. Charalambides said at the time that there were different approaches on specific provisions, but that he believed they could be bridged. The government has also given public assurances that the issue is among its health priorities.