Newsroom
Cyprus’ main employers’ organization is raising fresh concerns about staff shortages in the health sector, warning that delays in Parliament to ease the hiring of foreign nurses could soon be felt by patients.
The Federation of Employers and Industrialists (OEB) said it is deeply disappointed after the Parliamentary Health Committee postponed discussion of two proposed laws that would make it easier for hospitals and clinics to employ nurses from non-EU countries.
In simple terms, the federation says the health system needs more nurses, urgently, and every delay makes the problem harder to solve.
In a statement released Monday, OEB said hospitals and healthcare providers are already struggling to find enough nursing staff, and the lack of quick decisions is frustrating those trying to keep services running.
The organization argued that while the health system is under pressure, Parliament failed to move forward with measures that could help relieve the shortage. It claimed that trade union reactions played a role in the postponement, adding that patient care and the smooth operation of hospitals should come first.
OEB warned that if the situation continues, the impact may not stay behind the scenes for long.
According to the federation, clinics and hospitals could soon be forced to reduce certain services, or even temporarily stop operations, if they cannot secure enough nurses to safely staff their facilities.
Following the development, OEB said it will call an urgent meeting with health-sector groups affected by the staffing shortages to assess the situation and decide what steps should be taken next.
“The time has come for everyone to take responsibility,” the federation said, calling for faster action to address what it sees as a growing problem.
Staff shortages have increasingly become a major challenge for Cyprus’ healthcare system, with both private and public providers warning that demand for medical services is rising while available personnel remain limited, leaving healthcare workers stretched and patients potentially facing longer waits.
