Cyprus is to create its own national cancer institute, President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Wednesday, with cabinet approving a bill for its creation.

“This was something I had promised during the pre-election period. It was a permanent request of all the stakeholders involved, and especially of [the federation of Cyprus patients’ associations] Osak,” he said after the day’s cabinet meeting.

He added that the institute will be “a body which will undertake the coordination of all actions, policies, and plans concerning the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer”.

Additionally, he said, it will “have the responsibility … to promote cancer research in Cyprus”.

He said that this is “the most important thing, because we are talking about a sector in which prevention is the most important thing”.

Earlier, Michael Damianos, the current energy minister and former health minister, had described the plan as a “landmark initiative” and a “crucial step” toward upgrading the country’s oncology services.

He had said last year that there is “a pressing need for a central, independent body that can ensure consistency, continuity, and quality in oncology services” and that the national cancer institute will “play exactly that role”.