All medical professionals under one roof

The services of all doctors and nurses in both state and private sectors came under one roof on Friday, following a requisition order in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

A Health Ministry decree, which went into effect Friday morning at 6am, brought all medical doctors and nursing staff in the Republic of Cyprus under one roof in order to “meet the high demands in the case of a potential rapid spread of the virus.”

Both human resources and material including technical infrastructure are being affected by the order.

Cyprus reached 100 known confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 64 in the south, 33 in the north, and 3 on the British Bases, while people on the front lines, mainly doctors and nurses, were disproportionally affected in the south.

“Protecting public health and the healthcare system falls under the responsibility of the Republic, with the aim of preventing the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 disease,” the decree said.

The decree brings all registered doctors and nurses in the Republic of Cyprus under the supervision of the health minister, who can assign them duties.

A bulletin board online will be operated by the health ministry which will publish the names of doctors and nurses assigned to specific tasks or locations, while other means of communication will also be used.

The executive order requires all doctors and nurses to report to duty within 24 hours from the time an assignment is made public.

Ioannou previously clarified that doctors and nurses who belong to vulnerable groups will either be used in other duties or will be exempted all together.