Health budget to hit €1.4bn in 2027 as MPs question Gesy spending
The health ministry's 2027 budget rises about 3% to €1.4 billion, with €908 million going to Gesy. MPs pressed the minister over waiting lists, staffing and Okypy's deficit.
Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides presented a €1.4 billion spending plan for 2027 to the House health committee on Friday, roughly 3% above this year's figure, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The state's contribution to the general health scheme (Gesy) accounts for much of the rise, climbing by about €38 million to €908 million.
MPs used the session to press for a full evaluation of Gesy seven years after it launched, pointing to long waiting lists, gaps in certain treatments and uneven service quality. Disy MP Savia Orphanidou, who chairs the committee, noted that prevention takes only 2% of spending against a European average of 4%, and called for more investment in mental health.
Akel MP Marina Nikolaou dismissed the increase as largely absorbed by Gesy and said budgeted posts had dropped by 87 year on year, while Yiannis Laouris of Direct Democracy put Okypy's deficit at around €300 million. Charalambides said a PwC study due soon would point to further savings and that a joint committee with the finance ministry had been set up to contain costs.
What it means for residents
The headline figure looks like a boost for healthcare, but the practical effect on patients depends on how the money is spent and whether staffing gaps are closed. For anyone using Gesy, the debate over waiting times and coverage is the part worth watching.
- Gesy contributions: most of the new spending goes to the scheme itself, so changes in service quality may be slow to appear.
- Staffing: vacant posts and reliance on overtime remain unresolved, which can mean delays for appointments and treatments.
- Public hospitals: Okypy's finances are under scrutiny, and any restructuring could affect how services are organised.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
