Over a half of health ministry budget going to Gesy

The health ministry presented a budget for 2024 11.6 per cent greater than the year before on Monday, with most of the budget set to be for the government’s contribution to the national health system (Gesy).

More than half (53 per cent) of the budget set at around €1.3 billion will constitute the government’s contribution to Gesy.

Health Minister Popi Kanari presented the budget to the House finance committee on Monday, where she said that they are focusing on four pillars this year: the reform of Cyprus’ health system, upgrading e-health and promoting new technologies, promoting health and disease prevention, and upgrading health infrastructure.

Of the total budget, set at around €1.3 billion (€1,291,284,331), around €18 million is going to development funds, marking an increase of 61.6 per cent.

The money for the development fund will be used to upgrade the state laboratory, blood centres, to buy medical equipment and mechanical and electronic equipment.

In a budget breakdown, the health ministry said that it is planning to spend: €687 million on its Gesy contribution, more than €350 million on salaries of officials and staff, €95 million on the state health services organisation (Okypy), €50 million on medicines and vaccines, almost €35 million on social services, more than €12 million on internal transfers, €38 million operational costs, and €18 million on development projects.

Also, the health ministry is working on ten bills, which concern the operation of university hospitals, regulate the operation of palliative care centres, the operation of radio diagnostic centres, the operation of public and private hospitals, etc., while another seven bills have been completed and are already at the attorney-general’s office for legal review.