Minister asks HIO to restore physio for cerebral palsy patients

A month and a half after the parents and friends of children with cerebral palsy denounced a decision by the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) to slash the number of physiotherapy sessions provided under the general health system (Gesy), the health ministry said it was seeking a reversal of the decision.

Angalia Elpidas Foundation had denounced the move as running counter to HIO’s previous commitments. The decision was taken without consulting them and asked that it be suspended immediately, it added.

The group specifically castigated the decision to reduce the number of sessions for children over 12 from 48 a year to 24, and to differentiate according to age and the seriousness of the condition.

A month and a half later, the health ministry said Minister Michalis Hadjipantelas has “sent a letter to the Chairman of the Board of HIO, Mr. Thomas Antoniou, requesting the suspension of the decision to reduce/cut off physiotherapy sessions via Gesy to cerebral palsy patients”.

In his letter, the minister asked HIO “to engage the relevant parties in a dialogue exploring the reversal of the decision and act in ways helpful towards the beneficiary patients.”