In no case, doctors who have chosen private medicine outside of the NHS should not be marginalized and the state should not treat them as second-class citizens, the Pancypriot Medical Association (PIS) says in a statement on the occasion of the developments regarding members of those who chose to practice private medicine outside the health system, whether they are shareholders in hospitals contracted with the NHS, or partners.
“A doctor who does not contract with the National Health Service is not less of a doctor compared to those who have a contract. “Unfortunately, many colleagues are victims because of the tolerance for the disorderly application of the legislation concerning the National Social Security System”, it is pointed out. unhindered, legal and quality practice of medicine are narrowed for the doctors who consciously chose not to contract with the NHS”.
The obstacles put in place, it is noted, affect their constitutional rights and at the same time cause conditions of inequality among our members – which restrictions, potentially, can “adversely and unevenly” affect the specialty of each and every fellow member of the PIS.
PIS emphasizes that in no case the Hippocratic mission of the doctor to serve the patient in a human-centered way, cannot be limited by any professional regime through which he chooses to practice medicine.
It states that in all democratically advanced countries, national health systems and private medicine not only coexist but also support each other, which enhances the level and quality of medicine in each country and at the same time ensures the continuous improvement of health services provided for the benefit of patients .
On the contrary, PIS adds, in Cyprus we see an attempt to neutralize private medicine in a “hostile” way that adversely affects both the constitutional rights of colleagues and the quality of services that patients and citizens of the place.
“The effort of the Pancypriot Medical Association is twofold and concerns the safeguarding of patients' right to freely choose a doctor and hospital and at the same time safeguarding the right of doctors to practice medicine unhindered. “Discounts” in the rights of patients and doctors, means “discounts” in the quality and level of services provided in our country”, concludes the announcement.
