Kyriakides up to the task for EU health

Cyprus’ EU Commissioner-designate, Stella Kyriakides, who has been selected as the new EU Health Commissioner, says she is ready for the challenge.

Kyriakides told the Cyprus News Agency that the Health portfolio deals with the everyday life of European citizens and she looks forward to be able to deliver on the basis of the goals set out by the European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen, who made public on Tuesday the assignments of all the portfolios to the Commissioners-designate.

Kyriakides also said that it was a great honour for her that she was among the Commissioners-designate of von der Leyen’s College of Commissioners, noting that she has been dealing with health issues throughout her life, and that the health sector is a priority for the new European Commission “so that we can really ensure that European citizens enjoy high standards of safety and health.” 

Honoured and excited to be designated EU Commissioner for health. Thanks to President-elect @vonderleyen for this opportunity. I look forward to working with EU institutions and meeting with @Europarl_EN. Working together we can make a difference for the health of EU citizens.

— Stella Kyriakides (@kyriakidestella) September 10, 2019

The Disy ruling party MP also noted that there are many challenges, “since we have an ageing society. More complicated and expensive medical treatments are needed, and we need to make use of the new technologies,” she added. She went on to say that any changes that they will able to achieve will affect the everyday life of European citizens and that this is a great challenge for her.

She noted that the Health portfolio covers a lot of issues, food safety, animals’ safety, the phytosanitary sector, and public health. Kyriakides noted that as of today a lot of hard work is required to prepare for the hearing before the European Parliament that will take place in three weeks.

Moreover she noted that in the mission statement sent to her, Von der Leyen refers to specific issues which are very important. She asks to look into ways by which all European citizens will be able to have access to expensive medicine, into the issues of digital healthcare, the improvement of our communication with the citizens on vaccination issues and how to fight false perceptions, she noted.

Moreover she said that Von den Leyen elaborates on the goal of drafting a European strategy about cancer, with a view to help member states to improve prevention as well as healthcare for cancer patients. She also refers to food safety, animal welfare and Europe’s Green Policy, Kyriakides added.

“Health is related to all issues and I think that the fact that this portfolio has been assigned to us is something very important,” Cyprus’ EU Commissioner-designate noted.