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Parliament will begin an article-by-article debate in September on a controversial bill to legalize medically assisted death, with a full vote expected in January 2026. However, the government maintains the move is premature without first expanding palliative care services.
Health Minister Michalis Damianos emphasized the administration’s stance during Monday’s session of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, saying, “Palliative care must come first.” He said related legislation has already been submitted, including bills on palliative and home care, with the former scheduled for review after the summer.
Committee Chairperson Irini Charalambidou, who introduced the euthanasia bill, pushed back on delaying debate, arguing that “everyone must take responsibility” and that patients with terminal cancer deserve the right to choose how they face death. She pointed to the growing number of European nations adopting similar laws, including the U.K., France, Spain, and Portugal.
While Health Insurance Organization (HIO) President Stavros Michail confirmed that palliative care under the General Health System is currently limited to cancer patients, he noted that lack of legislation restricts expansion to other patient groups.
Political parties remain divided. DISY and DIKO have expressed reservations, while independent MP Alexandra Attalidou supports the bill, calling euthanasia “a matter of human rights.”
Charalambidou challenged claims that palliative care must be a precondition, citing services already provided by organizations like PASYKAF and Arodaphnousa. She warned that further delay may reflect a broader reluctance to confront the issue ahead of elections.
Despite repeated calls for prioritizing end-of-life care infrastructure, Charalambidou insisted the bill targets a narrow group—terminal cancer patients—and includes strict procedural safeguards. She urged lawmakers to move forward: “Everyone is entitled to their personal views, but responsibility must be taken.”
