Minister of Health Popi Kanaris said that a great number of well recognised health scientists and researchers, with tremendous contribution in medical sciences, have their roots in Cyprus while the island's EU membership as well as the implementation of the General Healthcare System make it a robust medical knowledge and healthcare provision hub. She made the remark addressing the 3rd Cyprus International Medical Forum, a meeting that can be a catalyst, she said, towards promoting Cyprus as a Center of Medical and Scientific Excellence. Kanaris said the meeting is expected to promote investment in the health care and increase Cyprus' visibility in the medical market. The Minister noted that the geographical position of Cyprus being in the far most eastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea at the crossroad of Europe, Asia and Africa guarantee the easy access to the Country and the travelling to neighbouring countries. Acknowledging that well recognised health scientists and researchers, with tremendous contribution in medical sciences have roots in Cyprus, she said along "with its membership in the European Union and the implementation of a General Healthcare System, makes it a strategically important country but also a robust medical knowledge and healthcare provision hub." Referring to the fourth anniversary since the implementation of GeSY, she said it is here to promote universal health coverage and address the existing inequalities of health care coverage amongst the population, while is based on the principles of Universality, Equality, Solidarity and Free Choice of healthcare provider. At the same time, the Minister added, this system is enriched by highly qualified doctors and healthcare professionals, as well as advanced medical technology and healthcare facilities that classify it into a social innovation. In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis said that his ministry is interested to explore more the great potential of this kind of tourism service. "Internationally Medical Tourism has emerged as a major industry with many individuals all over the world, deciding to combine their holidays with high-quality medical care," he said. Medical tourism, also contributes to the enrichment of the level of services offered, improving the domestic tourism product and extending the tourism season, which is one of the biggest challenges for the tourist sector in Cyprus, he added. Health and wellness tourism is one of the special priority products based on the National Tourism Strategy 2020-2030, he said and explained that medical tourism appears in different types, bariatric surgery, rehabilitation, diagnostics and other treatments. Furthermore, he said his ministry is willing to promote more intensively Cyprus as a Medical Tourism destination, and for this purpose it is preparing a new action plan for the coming months. It will also announce a new grant scheme under the Recovery and Resilience Plan to offer the opportunity to hotels all over Cyprus to create medical and rehabilitation facilities. Commissioner for the Environment, Maria Panayiotou, emphasised the inseparable connection between the environment and human health. "Our environment plays a critical role in shaping our well-being, and it is our duty to preserve and protect it for future generations," she said, adding "the future of medicine in Cyprus encompasses medical tourism and the hospital and clinic facilities of 2030 and as we discuss the potential of medical tourism, it is crucial that we consider the environmental impacts of increased travel and urged participants to consider the vital role of environmental sustainability in healthcare practices".
Source: Cyprus News Agency