Doctors and Okypy to discuss financial incentives

Doctors and representatives of state health services organisation Okypy will meet on Wednesday at noon to discuss several points, most importantly the parameters for an agreement on the financial incentives for doctors for the years 2024-2026.

On the other hand, in the past days, doctors’ union leaders have indicated that the meeting will also focus on the results of a study conducted by an independent analyst regarding the financial incentives for doctors for the year 2023.

The head of doctor’s union branch Pasydy Moises Lambrou warned that, should the discussion solely focus on incentives for the years 2024-2026, Okypy will face a “frosty reception”, implying that the unions might walk out of the meeting.

Speaking to Philenews on Monday, doctors’ union Pasiki president Sotiris Koumas told said the invitation for Wednesday’s meeting pertains to the year 2023, adding that the invitation itself is proof that the consultation for 2023 has not been completed.

Koumas also said that should the meeting’s focus shift focus to the proposed incentives for the next two years, “it will create problems”.

The meeting follows ongoing tensions between doctors and Okypy over the results of a study on the 2023 financial incentives. Okypy had proposed a budget of €4.1 million in July, which the doctors disputed, prompting the commissioning of an independent study.

Lambrou said that the unions were not aware of the terms of reference for the study and suggested that the unions’ understanding of these terms might differ from Okypy’s interpretation.

In a July meeting that saw the participation of Health Minister Michael Damianos, Okypy representatives, and doctors’ unions, it was agreed that a new framework for the 2024-2026 agreement would be negotiated, with Damianos acting as a mediator and the Cyprus Medical Association as an observer.

The deadline for finalising the framework was set for October 31. Additionally, proposals made by the Okypy board on June 25, linking financial incentives to the organization’s revenues, was withdrawn.

As far as the financial incentives for 2023 are concerned, it was decided that an independent, mutually accepted financial firm would review the data based on the existing agreement, with its findings being binding for all parties involved.