Issues concerning further cooperation between Cyprus and Greece in health matters were discussed during a meeting here Monday between Health Minister Stavros Malas and his Greek counterpart Andreas Loverdos.
Speaking during a joint press conference, Malas said they discussed broadening bilateral cooperation in the field of health and especially as regards training of doctors and treatment of Cypriot patients at specialized Greek medical centres.
Malas stressed that Cyprus and Greece must cooperate very closely in the field of health on the basis of a joint medical pact.
He added that in this framework they decided that Cypriot patients who need treatment abroad, which cannot be offered in Cyprus, will be referred to specialized private or public medical centres in Greece.
He said that as a first step, children in need of heart surgery and children with oncology problems have already been referred to Greek medical centres.
Malas announced the twinning of Cyprus Makario Hospital with the Children’s Hospital “Agia Sofia” in Greece.
Malas also said that from now on liver transplants will take place in Greece and all liver transplants from Cyprus will be sent to Greece.
He added that they also discussed issues concerning the EU Cypriot Presidency to be exercised during the second half of 2012.
On his part, Loverdos said that they discussed issues of mutual concern and endorsed Malas’ reference to a joint medical pact.
He said that cooperation between the two countries in the field of transplants is already in place and added that Cyprus is a pioneer country worldwide in the field of kidney transplants.
He noted that the number of transplants in Greece has fallen during the past years due to false impressions created by the media that official transplant centres may be involved in illegal trafficking of body organs. He noted that in 2011 the number of organ donors increased.
Loverdos proposed to organize in January, in Athens, a joint event by the two ministries.
He said the aim is to make Greece the country which accepts more Cypriot patients than any other. Now, he added, it is the third after the UK and Israel.
Referring to the assumption of the EU Presidency by Cyprus during the second half of 2012, he noted that Cyprus’ work will be very hard as it is a small country.
