The Christodoulides government is making health care and services for vulnerable groups a top priority, Health Minister Michael Damianos said Friday as he inaugurated a new children’s waiting area at the A&E department of Limassol general hospital.

“The ultimate target is the creation of an independent department in the coming months, which will provide separate hospital infrastructure exclusively for children,” said Damianos.

During a visit to the site, Damianos met with doctors and outlined plans for the new department, which will be staffed exclusively by paediatricians and include separate examination rooms for infants and teenagers as well as short-stay facilities.

The minister expressed his optimism towards the establishment of the new department, as “the experience from the paediatric A&E at Nicosia general hospital gives us confidence that we will achieve the same results in Limassol for the benefit of our young patients and their families,”

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The minister inaugurated a new children’s waiting area at the A&E department of Limassol general hospital

The minister stressed that these improvements upgrade services both inside and outside the national health system (Gesy), “especially for a vulnerable group of patients such as children.”

Damianos added that, “the current government has set health as a priority, particularly upgrading the services offered to vulnerable groups, and for this reason they have been investing in staffing, infrastructure and equipment.”

In his announcement, the minister, in collaboration with the state health services (Okypy), recognised the need for immediate patient care and the reduction of waiting time.

“This will be achieved through the expansion of services and infrastructure in public hospitals, such as the children’s A&E and fast-track clinics,” said Damianos.

Children are “the undeniable future of this country,” he said, thanking doctors, nurses and all staff “for the invaluable services you provide.”

He concluded by reiterating the health ministry’s intention to contribute to the upgrading of hospital services with the final recipient being the patients.