Newsroom
The resignation of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Health Services Organization (SHSO) was demanded today during a Parliamentary Health Committee meeting discussing the 2025 budgets for SHSO and the Health Insurance Organization (HIO).
Committee members expressed frustration with the handling of public healthcare, with Chairman Efthymios Diplaros calling for the Board and management to step down. He criticized SHSO for submitting its budget late, accusing it of coercive tactics to force approval, warning that without reform, the General Healthcare System (GHS) could collapse or lead to privatization of public hospitals.
Diplaros pointed to instances of financial mismanagement, such as a €115.7 million projected deficit, while costs for services and operations continue to rise, including an alarming increase in office cleaning expenses and outsourcing costs. He also pointed out that important financial data for 2024 was missing from SHSO’s budget, suggesting an effort to conceal the depth of the organization’s troubles.
Further criticisms came from opposition MPs, who held both SHSO’s Board and the Health Minister accountable for the deteriorating state of public hospitals. AKEL MP Marina Nikolaou criticized the Board for submitting budgets at the last minute and called on the President of the Republic to take responsibility.
DIKO MPs also emphasized the need for immediate governance reforms at SHSO and HIO, with concerns over public hospitals losing their dominance to private sector competition. They warned that unless strategic planning is implemented, the viability of public healthcare will be jeopardized.
Despite concerns, the HIO budget was praised for being balanced, with expectations that financial stability will last until 2032. However, HIO raised alarms about staff shortages and operational challenges.
The debate over the future of the GHS and its governance continues, with mounting calls for reform to ensure the sustainability of public healthcare services.
