The planned 48-hour strike by public hospital doctors scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Thursday has been called off following extensive discussions between the doctors’ unions, the state health services organisation (Okypy) and a direct intervention from President Nikos Christodoulides.

After intense negotiations, which also involved Health Minister Michael Damianos, the parties reached a compromise, and the strike was suspended.

During the negotiations, Christodoulides reiterated the need for a dialogue, which all parties agreed to.

As a result of the discussions, a new framework agreement for 2024-2026 was proposed. This framework will be negotiated with Damianos acting as mediator and the Cyprus Medical Association participating as an observer. The deadline for finalising the agreement has been set for October 31.

Regarding the financial issues for the year 2023, it was agreed that an independent firm, acceptable to both parties – the doctors’ unions and Okypy – will review the financial details based on the existing agreement. The findings of this independent review will be binding on all parties involved.

This resolution aims to address the doctors’ concerns while avoiding disruption to public healthcare services.

Earlier on Monday, the civil servants’ union Pasydy head Moisis Lambrou expressed optimism regarding he situation, saying things were “on a good road” and that he hoped a significant breakthrough would be achieved.

At the same time, doctors’ union Pasyki head Sotiris Koumas told the Cyprus News Agency that “hope always dies last”.

Representatives from the two unions also met the head of the parliamentary health committee Efthymios Diplaros at 11am.

The doctors’ unions announced the strike – the first in 20 years – last Wednesday claiming their demands for remuneration were not being met by Okypy as outlined in a proposal made to them on the issue of payment of accrued wages deriving from an incentives formula.

In a post on ‘X’ on Saturday the health minister urged all involved to consider the consequencesof the strike action on the public, expressing the hope that it would be averted.

He called on doctors to cooperate and act with responsibility and understanding to promptly reach an agreement for everyone’s benefit.

The ministry of finance, meanwhile, slammed the strike saying it could not be an answer to problems. Worker demands must be confined within the range of Okypy’s financial capacities, the ministry said.

Speaking to CyBC radio on Monday morning, however, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos struck a different tone, saying financial support for Okypy, which was to have been terminated in May, was ongoing.

The minister refused to be drawn into a direct answer as to how long the support to the organisation could continue. The money provided is taxpayer money, Keravnos said, and this must be borne in mind and the goal is to reach agreement so that the independence of Okypy can be effected.

However, public hospitals must continue to function, he said.