Newsroom
By Hector Georgiou
With the participation of policymakers, academics, experts from Cyprus and abroad, healthcare professionals and service providers, a major health conference organized by the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) kicked off Thursday afternoon in Nicosia.
The conference, titled “Transforming Healthcare in Cyprus: New Trends, New Realities,” opened with remarks by Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Clea Hadjistephanou Papallina, speaking on behalf of President Nikos Christodoulides.
In her address, the deputy minister stressed that healthcare remains a top priority for the government, describing the General Healthcare System (GeSY) as a landmark social achievement that guarantees universal and equal access to medical services for nearly the entire population.
She backed that up with numbers. Since GeSY was launched, she said, 21 million appointments have been made with personal doctors and another 21 million with specialist physicians.
To date, the system has recorded 3.6 million visits to radiology centers, more than 17 million laboratory tests, 42 million prescriptions filled, over 1.3 million dental visits and more than 360,000 surgical operations.
Addressing participants, OEB President George Pantelides said Cyprus’ healthcare sector has undergone a deep transformation in recent years, particularly following the implementation of GeSY. He described the system as a historic structural reform that reshaped the health landscape through significant investment and modernization of infrastructure.
Pantelides also pointed to technology, and especially artificial intelligence, as a driving force of change in healthcare. At the same time, he did not shy away from the challenges ahead, including safeguarding the long-term sustainability of GeSY and addressing nursing staff shortages. Healthcare, he stressed, is not only a social good but also a strategic pillar of economic growth.
The conference program is built around high-level thematic discussions aimed at strengthening evidence-based dialogue and contributing meaningfully to policymaking and strategic planning in the health sector.
Key themes include sustainability and resilience, the economic dimension of healthcare, the use of technology and innovation, patient experience, and the role of investment in improving quality, accessibility and efficiency.
Among the speakers are Professor John Deanfield, Sara Siegel, Dr. Petros Agathangelou, Professor Philippos Patsalis and Dr. Marios Karaiskakis, among others.
The conference is taking place at the Landmark Nicosia, in cooperation with the Cyprus Medical Association and with the support of the Ministry of Health.
