The process of hiring of new staff at the Paphos general hospital is in the “final stage”, state health services organisation (Okypy) spokesman Charalambos Charilaou said on Thursday.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, he said a meeting had been held on August 7 between trade unions and Okypy, wherein “the needs were defined”, with the agreements found there set to be sent to Okypy’s central administration to be signed.

At the same time, he said, a list of names of potential hires had been requested from the labour ministry, and interviews had already taken place.

Meanwhile, he said, an agreement made between Okypy and trade unions regarding hourly-paid staff will be “fully respected”.

He said that in this regard, “a working group has been set up which, in collaboration with the trade unions, has determined the required number of hourly staff to be hired on a permanent basis.”

He added that Okypy has since made various visits to hospitals across the island to “determine these needs”.