Cyprus and Greece sign health protocol

The Health ministers of Cyprus and Greece pledged here Monday to strengthen relations between their health systems and to offer the best possible health services to the citizens of both countries.
Cypriot Minister of Health Haris Charalambous and Greek Minister of Health and Social Solidarity Demetris Avraamopoulos signed on Monday a protocol which includes provisions for a unified strategy on issues concerning health, twinning of hospitals, joint conferences, special cooperation on thalassaemia and bird flu and common action for vulnerable groups of the society.
The two also pledged to implement the soonest, the Protocol of cooperation which they signed this morning.
Avraamopoulos said that the protocol signals the prospect for closer cooperation between the two countries in the field of health and will significantly help them in handling problems faced in the implementation of their National Health System.
On his part, Charalambous said that the “protocol is the start of a new course for further cooperation”, noting that this way, “we will offer everything possible to our citizens”.
Avraamopoulos said he invited his Cypriot counterpart for an official visit to Greece in June to continue the discussion on the protocol’s implementation and to take part in a world forum of Greek doctors, Scientists and Researchers which will take place early June at the island of Kos.
“It will be a chance to bring together distinguished Greek and Cypriot scientists”, he added.
The Greek minister further said that “the signing of this Protocol of cooperation, signals a new start in relations between Greece and Cyprus, especially in sensitive field of health and social solidarity”.
The protocol provides for drafting a common health strategy which includes developing action and programmes to handle general issues of health as well as situations of state of emergency in the field of health in both countries.
Earlier, the two ministers met where they examined ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of health.