President defends HIO decision as criticism grows

Amid mounting criticism over the appointment of Dr. Petros Agathangelou to the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) board, President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday defended the decision, countering that it was thanks to his own determination that the general health system (Gesy) had been implemented.

Agathangelou, president of the Cyprus Medical Association (CMA), was appointed to the HIO board which oversees Gesy, by cabinet on Thursday.

Critics quickly slammed the move, saying Agathangelou was a known opponent of Gesy and querying whether it posed questions of conflict of interest.

The chorus of protests grew on Friday, with HIO board member Melina Pyrgou tendering her resignation in protest and the federation of the Cyprus patients’ association (Osak) issuing a strongly worded statement.

Anastasiades brushed aside the criticism saying Agathangelou was selected in his capacity as president of CMA which represents 95 per cent of all private doctors who are part of Gesy, and as a representative of the employers’ and industrialists’ federation Oev, and not on the basis of views he had expressed in the past.

“I am saddened because some people appear as advocates of the Gesy, ignoring that it was my own determination and will that lead, after decades, to the historic introduction of the new healthcare system,” Anastasiades said in a written statement.

The HIO board consists of 13 members, he said, adding: “it is unfortunate, to say the least, for some to claim that the appointment of a member who has expressed opposing views in the past will supposedly lead to the collapse of Gesy or alter its structure and philosophy. I did not expect such a derogatory reference to the other members of the HIO board,” he added.

Both the business chamber Keve and Oev have been represented on the HIO board, in accordance with the provisions of the law since Gesy was created, without any attempt to alter Gesy’s philosophy ever being observed, the president also noted.

“I want to reiterate in the strongest possible terms that I will not tolerate anybody even attempting to alter the philosophy of Gesy, nor certainly questioning my intentions. Populism is not what is required to correct weaknesses in an unprecedented reform that is being implemented,” he concluded.

But Friday saw even more public figures and groups slamming the appointment.

In a letter addressed to Anastasiades on Friday, a very angry Osak said Agathangelou’s appointment only confirmed concerns about behind-the-scenes moves against Gesy.

It also came as a culmination of a series of actions, decisions and delays on the part of the government over the past year, on issues that concern the development and modernisation of the health sector in Cyprus in general.

Sek trade union confederation expressed great disappointment and opposition to the appointment of a person who had opposed the implementation of Gesy, accusing those doctors who joined the system of being “renegades”.

“It is provocative that a healthcare provider, who has never gone along with the needs and vision of society for a single-payer and solidarity-based healthcare system, should participate in the governance of Gesy, which also creates a material conflict of interest, since the HIO Act prohibits a person who is a healthcare provider or has any interest in connection with the provision of healthcare provided under the Gesy Act from being appointed to the HIO board,” Sek said in a statement.

Civil servants trade union Pasydy described Agathangelou’s appointment as unnecessary action, described the reactions expressed by organised social groups as justified and queried whether there was possible conflict of interest.

Also wading into the debate on Friday was Deok trade union, which said “Gesy was created to meet the needs of the citizens of this country and not to satisfy the interests of big-shot doctors and insurance companies.”