Health minister boosts ties with Finland

Cyprus and Finland aim to sign a memorandum of understanding on health issues with Cypriot patients possibly being sent to the Scandinavian country for treatment after Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela’s visit this week, the ministry said on Friday.

Hadjipantela met Finland’s minister of family affairs and social services Aki Linden, and the two discussed issues ranging from Covid and eHealth to personal doctors.

The meeting, held on Thursday, is part of Hadjipantela’s continuation of contacts with EU ministers to better enhance and bolster ties between the nations.

The two ministers discussed the strategies on a European level in handling the pandemic as well as cancer.

Hadjipantela also visited the HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center where he was briefed by its director on the innovative methods being deployed by Finland in its treatment of cancer.

The minister also visited what will be the world’s first inpatient clinic offering Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, which is expected to be operational from March 2023. Promising results have been seen in the treatment of head and throat cancer.

On Friday Hadjipantela will visit the Health Incubator Helsinki and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.