The number of physiotherapy sessions provided under the general health system (Gesy) for people with cerebral palsy will be increased following an agreement reached with the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) on Monday.

At the beginning of April, the organisation came under fire after it reduced the number of sessions from 48 to 24 per year and to differentiate according to age and the seriousness of the condition.

The new agreement reached after pressures made by the federation of Cyprus patients’ associations (Osak) stipulates that children of up to six will be entitled to 96 sessions a year, while those between six and 12-years-old will have access to 60 sessions.

Moreover, people aged between 12 and 18 are entitled to 48 yearly sessions and people aged between 18 and 25 will have access to 24.

For people over 25, the number of physiotherapy sessions will be allocated according to each case.

Speaking after a meeting with HIO representatives on Monday, Osak’s president Maris Kouloumas also said that patients for whom it is deemed necessary to provide additional treatment will be able to apply for more sessions.

“In addition to that, the need for home physiotherapy sessions in certain specific cases was also discussed with the HIO,” Kouloumas said.