Nicosia:Strengthening the security and availability of medicines, improving preparedness for health emergencies, and expanding cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean are essential to building resilient healthcare systems, Cyprus' Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides stated at the 22nd Annual Economist Cyprus Summit in Nicosia.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Charalambides emphasized Cyprus's vulnerability as an EU island member state in the Eastern Mediterranean to disruptions in international supply chains and regional instability. He noted that the pandemic highlighted how health threats could disrupt economic activity, education, and public services, while events beyond national borders could directly affect healthcare delivery.
During Cyprus's Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026, Charalambides said the focus would be on medicine security, referring to the Critical Medicines Act as a significant step toward strengthening supply chains and enhancing cooperation among member states. He stressed that implementing the agreement is crucial, particularly for patients in smaller markets.
Charalambides also highlighted the importance of health diplomacy and regional cooperation, suggesting that countries in the Eastern Mediterranean could collaborate on sharing information about emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance, training healthcare teams, and coordinating emergency responses. He emphasized that stronger health services in neighboring countries help contain risks that could affect Cyprus.
Discussing domestic health systems, he praised the General Healthcare System (GeSY) for widening access to care and strengthening financial protection. However, he pointed out the need for improved quality, greater emphasis on prevention, and better coordination between services as priorities. Charalambides also mentioned the potential of digital health records, advanced diagnostics, and artificial intelligence in improving healthcare delivery, highlighting the need for secure infrastructure and protection of personal data.
Furthermore, he identified climate change, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires as growing public health challenges, calling for closer coordination between health services, local authorities, and civil protection. He concluded that resilience requires sustained investment in preparedness to ensure the availability of medicines and reliable healthcare services during emergencies.