Despite challenges Gesy is ‘on track’ for June 1 launch

The first phase of the National Health Scheme (Gesy) will be launched as planned with the introduction of outpatient care on June 1, the head of the state health services organisation (Okypy) said on Wednesday.

Although quick to acknowledge the difficulties that have bedevilled the scheme and with four months until Gesy is finally a reality, Okpy head Nicos Polyzos said that everyone was working at full speed to have everything ready not only for phase one but also the introduction of outpatient care – phase two – which is expected to roll out on June 1, 2020.

He was speaking at the monthly press conference that records progress on the implementation of Gesy.

“The beginning has been made. I know what follows will be difficult. Rest assured that the result will be a good one, at least better than before,” Polyzos said.

He said that efforts are underway for the 130 state doctors qualified to work as general practitioners (GPs) and 20 paediatricians to be registered in the Gesy system.  Already, more than half of them are registered, he said.

A €300,000 budget has been earmarked for infrastructure improvements at health centres, while “we are looking to also build new health centres,” he said.

Polyzos said that €5m will be given for the purchase of biomedical technology including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners for the three central state hospitals – Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca – and computer axial tomography (CAT) scanners for all six state hospitals.

Around 30 to 40 people are to be hired as paramedical and specialised staff to meet administrative and technical needs of state hospitals, he said.

Polyzos said that the Nicosia general could operate also as a model hospital despite the challenges.

“It is a good hospital, of modern standards. It has the potential to do other things, perhaps for adults, perhaps with collaborations with other specialties,” he said.

The Larnaca hospital however is lacking compared to the rest, he said. “It falls short.”

The hospital’s Accident and Emergency department, he admitted, “does not do justice to anyone”. He said that things need to change.

The new Larnaca hospital wing is to be delivered in the spring, he said.

The financial director of Okypy, Terpsithea Christou, said that the financial autonomy of the organisation and of the hospitals is on track.

An extensive information campaign was launched on Wednesday to inform the public about Gesy.

At present the campaign is in Greek only but information on Gesy in English may be found at www.gesy.org.cy

 

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