Medical students at the University of Cyprus have expressed frustration over prolonged delays in establishing university clinics, saying the lack of progress is forcing them to pursue specialist training abroad – often without returning to the island.

In an open letter, the students said the situation amounts to “driving us away,” and noted that professors are also leaving to work in proper university clinical settings overseas.

They argued that if university clinics were successfully established in Cyprus, young doctors would be more likely to remain in the country. This would improve patient care, promote biomedical and clinical research, create new research centres and jobs and shift the focus towards prevention through better infrastructure, equipment and staffing.

“We don’t need any more promises […] we need courageous decisions,” the letter said.

Around 40 students are admitted to the UCY medical programme each year, and to date, 240 have graduated without spending a single day training in a university clinic.

“They call us the best of the best for scoring highest in the Pancyprian exams, we study six years at the University of Cyprus, and then we’re forced to go abroad,” the students said.

The creation of university clinics has been repeatedly delayed due to longstanding disputes, particularly over who would control their operation. Both the government and public sector doctors have sought a say in the matter.

In February, the government made another attempt to move the issue forward by promoting a bill – ten years after initial discussions began. However, the public doctors’ union (Pasyki) again voiced strong objections.

Health ministry spokesman Demetris Constantinou told the Cyprus Mail on Thursday that the bill was approved by the cabinet in late February and has since been submitted to the House.

A date is now awaited for its discussion at the House health committee.

The bill provides for integrating university clinics within public hospitals and establishing “affiliated hospital clinics”, prompting Pasyki union’s retort that the public doctors were “one of the main stakeholders in this process” and as such should be consulted.

Under the proposed framework, university clinics would be led by academic professionals, while affiliated clinics would be run by hospital-based doctors selected in collaboration with medical schools. Existing hospital clinics would continue operating as they currently do.

Health Minister Michael Damianos previously criticised the union’s stance, saying it had remained inflexible for a decade.
“If we waited for complete consensus, we would never move forward with this legislation,” he said, adding that doctors will have the opportunity to present their views during the parliamentary debate.