Can Cyprus future-proof its healthcare system? Experts gather to rethink the rules

The big question on the table Thursday afternoon was simple but urgent: how does Cyprus build a healthcare system that can survive the next decade, financially, technologically and humanly?

That was the whole point of the “Transforming Healthcare in Cyprus: New Trends, New Realities” conference at the Landmark Hotel in Nicosia. Doctors, economists, insurers, tech experts and patient representatives packed the room with one shared concern: the system works, but for how long and at what cost?

Opening the event, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Hadjistephanou Papaellina set the tone, acknowledging the pressure the healthcare system is under as demands grow and resources stretch. She was followed by George Pantelides, chairman of the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB), who stressed that healthcare reform isn’t just a medical issue; it’s an economic one. A healthy population, he implied, is the backbone of a healthy economy.

From there, the conversation quickly moved from speeches to substance.

The first session tackled the nuts and bolts of how healthcare systems actually function, not in policy papers, but in everyday reality. Speakers compared Cyprus’ model with other European systems, looking at what has already been fixed, what still needs work, and what lessons can realistically be borrowed. The words “accountability” and “long-term stability” came up more than once.

Professor John Deanfield of University College London delivered the keynote and reframed the debate in a way that made the room pause. The real question, he suggested, is whether we focus on the cost of healthcare, or the value of investing in health early. Preventing heart disease, diabetes or chronic illness isn’t just good for patients. It saves money down the line. In simple terms: spend smarter now, or pay more later.

Deloitte’s global health sector leader Sara Siegel zoomed out to the global picture. Health systems everywhere are juggling aging populations, tight budgets and staff shortages. Add artificial intelligence, robotics and digital records into the mix, and the pace of change becomes dizzying. The message was clear, Cyprus is not alone in this.

The second session shifted gears and asked something more personal: what does “value” actually mean for patients? Is it shorter waiting times? Better bedside manner? Faster diagnoses?

Hospital leaders and insurance executives discussed how private providers and insurers fit into Cyprus’ general healthcare system, arguing that cooperation, not competition, will determine whether the system stays financially sustainable. Patient advocate Miltos Miltiadous reminded everyone that beyond policies and spreadsheets are real people navigating real illnesses. Sustainability, he suggested, has to feel human.

The final session stepped squarely into the future and its risks. Cybersecurity experts warned that as hospitals digitize, they also become targets. Artificial intelligence promises efficiency and smarter diagnostics, but it also raises ethical questions. Can technology improve care without stripping away the human touch?

By the time the coffee cups were cleared and the reception began, one thing was obvious: Cyprus’ healthcare system is at a turning point. The tools for transformation are on the table: AI, better governance, and smarter financing, but making them work together is the real challenge.

Change is coming, whether anyone is ready or not. The debate now is whether Cyprus leads that change or scrambles to catch up.