HEALTH: Cyprus aspires to become regional medical centre

Cyprus can become a leading medical centre in the region providing first class care to locals and visitors, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Saturday as he inaugurated the first Robotic Surgery Department at the private Mediterranean Hospital in Limassol.

The President acknowledged that much remains to be done in state hospitals and expressed hope that new Minister of Health George Pamborides, who takes office on Monday, will put an order where needed and proceed with the implementation of the National Health Scheme.
Education has also played a significant role with the University of Cyprus signing a cooperation agreement with the Shacolas foundation to develop a medical school, while the private University of Nicosia celebrated its first medical graduates this year, as part of a programme with St George Hospital in London.
Anastasiades welcomed the upgrading of private hospitals in Cyprus. It contributes significantly, he said, not only to avoiding costs when sending patients abroad, but most importantly it helps Cyprus become an important regional medical centre, something that was missing.
“I believe this creates conditions for a promising future of the health sector which can benefit society at large and the country in general,” he added.
Furthermore, he said that the initiative of the private hospital to create a Department of Robotic Surgery is not only something that the government supports but encourages, in order to enrich the options a patient has.