Shortage of nurses and delays in decision-making pose serious risks

The Federation of Employers and Industrialists (OEB) has expressed strong concerns regarding recent public statements and threats of strike measures by hospitals within the State Health Services Organization (OKYPY), related to alleged nurse shortages.

It is noted that public sector nurses are the most affected by the global nursing shortage, which creates a misleading impression of the actual situation. According to trade union reports, OKYPY needs 120 additional nurses, currently employing about 2,800 mainly in clinical roles.

Approximately 60%–70% of the country’s nurses work in the public sector, covering only 30%–35% of GHS activities. Increasing public sector staffing would transfer nurses from the private sector, exacerbating private sector understaffing. Additionally, 5% of nurses in public hospitals are on long-term leave, compared to less than 1% in private hospitals.

Private hospitals operate under strict legislative frameworks that specify infrastructure, staffing ratios, and higher nurse-to-patient ratios than most European countries.

OEB has proposed several solutions to address the nurse shortage, including:

• Allowing employment of qualified nurses from third countries temporarily
• Employing foreign nurses who are graduates of Cypriot nursing schools
• Temporarily modifying nurse-to-patient ratios in private hospitals
• Employing health caregivers in roles where direct patient contact and Greek language skills are not required
• Utilizing health caregivers to support clinics and departments in both private and public hospitals
• Encouraging third-country nurses to learn Greek

Procrastination and threats of strikes hinder effective solutions and threaten the proper functioning of the GHS, creating unnecessary insecurity for patients. The issues in the public health sector cannot be solved by draining the private sector, which is already under significant pressure.