Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis emphasized that the “biggest problem facing the health ministry is the shortage of 4,000 nurses.” Speaking on Ertnews 105.8, he stated that if the healthcare system were strengthened with 4,000 additional nurses, “it would breathe again,” noting that the ministry’s political leadership will give special attention to this issue in the coming period. He also pointed out that many candidates who succeed in civil service exams ultimately decline their positions.
Referring to remote areas, Georgiadis highlighted that the recent call for applications had a strong response, making special mention of Drama, where, as he said, two pathologists were found and “the pathology ward is opening after months.”
Cyprus has implemented exceptionally high salaries for its public hospital staff, with wages reaching 8,000 to 10,000 euros, as part of drastic measures to save its healthcare system. “We cannot compete with that,” Georgiadis emphasized.
Georgiadis responds to lawsuit filed against him by Zoe Konstantopoulou
On a political level, Georgiadis addressed the lawsuit filed against him by Course of Freedom president Zoe Konstantopoulou, saying that “everyone does what they think is right” and that now “it’s up to the prosecutor.” He argued that the lawsuit was filed just before the deadline to prevent him from taking legal action himself, while noting that he had previously been characterized as a “murderer.”
The minister also discussed the implementation of the “bracelet” system in Emergency Departments, characterizing the measure as “revolutionary,” while revealing that it was his own idea. As he explained, within the next two weeks the system will be implemented in another 100 hospitals, followed by the ability for citizens to see real-time waiting times at each healthcare facility, something that – as he noted – will also work “psychologically” for hospital selection.
