Strike action at state hospitals in Cyprus looms as doctors’ unions prepare to announce their next steps on Monday, raising concerns about potential disruptions to healthcare services. The Pancyprian Association of Government Doctors (PASYKI) and the Union of Cyprus Public Employees (PASYDY) are set to meet on Monday to finalise joint measures, including the timing of any potential mobilisation.
The dispute centres on financial incentives for doctors under the General Healthcare System (GHS), with both sides disagreeing on how to calculate these incentives based on the revenue of the Organisation of State Health Services (SHSO). According to PASYKI President Sotiris Koumas, talks initiated two months ago have stalled due to differing interpretations of OKYPY’s revenue figures. Koumas criticised SHSO’s decision in August 2023 to accept a reduced unit price from the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), claiming it caused “losses of tens of millions” to state hospitals.
He confirmed PASYKI’s decision to take action and promised official announcements on Monday. Commenting on the doctors’ decisions, SHSO spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou told philenews, “The financial incentives for doctors were introduced at the beginning of SHSO to stem their exodus, reduce the income gap between public and private sector doctors, and increase productivity and, consequently, SHSO’s revenue.’ He explained that ‘the horizontal incentive provided to doctors is not a salary increase and therefore cannot be subject to change, while the vertical incentive must be adjusted in a way that benefits both doctors and the organisation.’
He added, “The Organisation values and recognises the work of public hospital doctors, respects and upholds the existing agreement, but it cannot accept changes that benefit only one party and not both. Since we share the same vision, we believe that through dialogue and by seriously considering the labour market, any differences will be resolved, and labour peace will prevail.”
Financial Implications for Doctors
The core of the dispute lies in how financial incentives are calculated. Doctors argue that their pay bill should reflect more accurately the revenue generated by SHSO. With online electricity payment systems becoming more streamlined, there is a growing expectation for similar efficiency in other public services, including healthcare. The gross salary discrepancies between public and private sector doctors have been a long-standing issue, which these incentives aim to address.
Meanwhile, other sectors are also feeling the pinch. For instance, employees dealing with the department of registrar of companies and official receiver have expressed concerns over their own financial packages. With platforms like tsb login and efg facilitating smoother transactions in banking, there is a call for similar advancements in public sector payroll systems.
As Monday approaches, all eyes will be on the outcome of the union meetings. The healthcare sector waits with bated breath, hoping for a resolution that ensures both fair compensation for doctors and uninterrupted services for patients.
