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Cyprus’ disability assessment system is under fire for failing to recognize congenital hearing loss as a permanent condition, prompting calls from lawmakers and disability advocates for urgent reforms.
Following a session of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare, and Social Insurance on Tuesday, Committee Chair Andreas Kavkalias criticized the system’s “serious deficiencies,” including the re-evaluation of individuals with lifelong hearing disabilities. “It is inconceivable,” he said, “that a congenital condition is classified as moderate or mild and subject to re-assessment.”
Lawmakers highlighted systemic delays, a shortage of medical professionals, and the absence of standardized protocols. They urged the government to recognize irreversible disabilities without subjecting individuals to repeated evaluations. MP Christos Senekis proposed creating an official list of permanent conditions, aligning Cyprus with practices in other European nations.
Disability rights leader Themis Anthopoulou, president of the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled People’s Organisations (KYSOA), noted that severe hearing loss cannot be resolved by devices like cochlear implants, which have limited function and usage time. She emphasized that such limitations are often overlooked in assessments.
Anthopoulou also warned that downgraded evaluations can strip individuals of state benefits, further marginalizing them. She welcomed an upcoming dialogue between KYSOA, the Department of Social Integration, and medical experts to address these concerns.
Advocates and lawmakers alike are calling for a binding code of ethics and uniform assessment criteria developed in consultation with the disability community to ensure fair, transparent, and humane evaluations.
