Cyprus and Israel have signed a protocol of cooperation in the area of health.
The protocol was signed by Minister of Health Christos Patsalides and his Israeli counterpart Yaacov Litzman, in the framework of the Cypriot Minister’s official visit to Israel between 1 and 4 of August.
According to an official press release, the protocol provides for the exchange and education of medical staff, cooperation in the field of research and exchange of information in matters concerning infectious diseases.
In his statements, the Cypriot Minister noted that the Ministry of Health aims at further developing cooperation with hospitals and clinics of Israel.
The Israeli Minister said he was happy to meet with his Cypriot counterpart who is the first Minister of Health of the Republic of Cyprus to pay an official visit to Israel after 1993.
He also said that the relations between the two countries in the field of health are in a very good level.
During his visit there, Patsalides addressed a conference organized by the Hadassah Hospital on the international cooperation in the field of health.
In his speech at the conference, the Minister said that one of Cyprus’ goals in the framework of the assumption of the EU presidency by Cyprus in the second half of 2012 is the promotion of regional cooperation in the field of health.
The conference was also addressed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Daniel Ayalon, who thanked the Cypriot Minister for his presence, noting the importance his government attributes to regional cooperation in the field of health.
Patsalides also held a meeting with the president and the members of the Hadassah Medical Center and visited the State Hospital of Tel Hashomer where he met with Cypriot doctors who work there as well as with Cypriot patients who are hospitalized in Tel Hashomer.
He also visited the Medical Center of Belinson.
During his visits, Patsalides stressed that the Ministry of Health is not only interested in sending Cypriot patients to Israel for specific treatment, but also in importing expertise by encouraging Israeli doctors to conduct surgeries in Cyprus.
In the framework of his visit there, the Cypriot Minister also met with Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III.
