Bill prepared for creation of ‘patient advocate’

Legislation has been prepared for the creation of the role of a “patient advocate”, with the bill expected to be brought to parliament in the near future.

The bill is one of two which are set to be submitted to parliament by the health ministry in the coming weeks, with the other set to terminate the duties of Gesy’s supervision commissioner and transfer those responsibilities to the ministry.

Concerns had been raised regarding the termination of the duties of the supervision commissioner, with civil servants working under the commissioner reportedly concerned that they may lose their job when the office is closed.

However, Health Minister Michael Damianos on Wednesday was keen to offer reassurances, telling newspaper Phileleftheros that “no one will lose their job or their role as a civil servant.”

“Let me make it clear that the institution of the Gesy supervision commissioner will not be abolished, but rather have its responsibilities transferred to a separate department with its own departmental head inside the health ministry,” he said.

He added, “the commissioner’s responsibilities regarding the problems and complaints of patients will then be transferred to the patient advocate.”

Explaining the decision, he said, “for us to finally move forward and complete the requisite reforms in the health sector, the health ministry needs to start taking on a supervisory role in practice.”

The bill has won the encouragement of the federation of Cyprus patients’ associations (Osak), with federation secretary Marios Charalambides saying the health sector “finally needs to be reconciled and reform finally needs to be led in the right direction.”

“The creation of a patient advocate will fill a very large gap,” he said, adding, “Osak agrees to this change because the health ministry must change its role and supervise and control the entire health sector, the proper functioning of Gesy, and the way in which the health insurers’ organisation (HIO) operates.”

On the role of the patient advocate, he said, “the advocate will have the obligation to support and advocate in favour of patients and promote their rights where necessary … Patients need their advocate.”

The idea for the creation of a patient advocate had first been floated in 2021, with then-Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela announcing his intention to appoint a “patients’ rights commissioner”.

The matter picked up speed at the beginning of this year, with Michael Damianos announcing in January that the matter of reforming Cyprus’ health sector was “unfinished business”.

He said he would submit bills to parliament this year ““to give healthcare providers the tools to do their jobs more properly, so we can provide a comprehensive health service in our country.”