Cyprus’s private hospitals are on the brink of disruption unless immediate action is taken regarding the ongoing nurse shortage, warns the sector’s chief. Marios Karaiskakis, president of the Cyprus Private Hospitals Association, expressed grave concerns on Friday about the dire state of staffing in healthcare facilities.
“We’ve run out of words. We needed nurses yesterday and they’re telling us about a new study,” Karaiskakis stated during an interview with state radio. He emphasised that the private hospitals are operating at breaking point, unable to wait for further studies while their wards remain dangerously understaffed.
Since before Christmas, private hospitals have been calling for solutions to the nurse shortage, only to be met with unfulfilled promises and no tangible results. Karaiskakis made it clear that the time for discussions and studies has passed. “There’s no other option – we’ll take measures even though we absolutely don’t want to cause problems for patients. They’re not giving us any choice,” he said.
The situation escalated when proposed legislation aimed at easing the hiring of foreign nurses was blocked by trade unions in Parliament. This development has left private hospitals frustrated, as the government now suggests conducting yet another study instead of taking immediate action. Karaiskakis responded sharply, stating, “Well no, there’s no more room for that. We’re operating at the limit when it comes to nursing staff.”
Adding to the frustration, Karaiskakis pointed out the absurdity of current regulations. Foreign nurses who graduate from Cypriot nursing schools, fluent in Greek and holding local degrees, are still required to obtain a master’s degree to work in the country— a requirement not imposed on Cypriots.
“They’ll drag us to the European courts,” he warned, highlighting the untenable situation that could arise if the government fails to act. It is a sentiment echoed by many in the sector, who feel that despite their numerous attempts to engage with officials—through meetings, parliamentary sessions, and repeated memoranda—little has changed. “We’ve been shouting, begging. We say the same things over and over. Nothing happens. We’ve run out of words,” Karaiskakis lamented.
His message to the government was unequivocal: “This is it. If we don’t see solutions now, the next time we go public it will be to announce we’re taking measures.” The urgency of the situation could soon lead to significant changes in how private healthcare operates in Cyprus if the nursing crisis is not swiftly addressed.
