Nicosia:A conference held at the European University Cyprus focused on health diplomacy as a tool for promoting peace in the Eastern Mediterranean and the demographic challenges faced by Cyprus and Greece. The event was part of Hippocratic Week - Hippocratic School 2026.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides, representing President Nikos Christodoulides, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in public health as a national responsibility. He noted that countries' preparedness for health crises is linked to their ability to collaborate, which can be enhanced through information-sharing, joint research, and coordinated emergency preparedness.
For Cyprus, being an EU member state in the Eastern Mediterranean offers opportunities to strengthen ties with neighboring countries through European and international mechanisms and university partnerships. Charalambides highlighted the potential of health cooperation to build trust despite political differences, though it cannot fully resolve conflicts.
He also addressed the implications of an aging population and declining birth rates, stressing the need for integrated healthcare services that connect prevention, chronic disease management, and long-term care. Support for families and reproductive health services should be part of broader policies on housing, employment, and childcare.
Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios, through a statement read by Michalis Spyrou, linked the low birth rate to the ongoing impacts of the 1974 Turkish invasion. He warned of the dangers of the Greek Cypriots becoming a minority and called for increased support for families. Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos proposed enhancing medical cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and highlighted the pressures on health infrastructure due to population growth driven by migration.
George Patoulis, president of the Athens Medical Association, described the demographic issues as a national and European challenge, calling for cooperation between Cyprus and Greece. Petros Agathangelou, president of the Cyprus Medical Association, emphasized the role of international cooperation in protecting human life and advocated for evidence-based demographic policies. Konstantinos Pantos of the World Hippocratic Institute of Physicians urged the inclusion of fertility education in preventive medicine.
Khassim Diagne, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Cyprus, highlighted health's potential to foster dialogue and trust. Elizabeth Johnson from European University Cyprus announced that Nicosia will host the international conference 'All Together for Better Health' in 2027. Stefanos Geroulanos of the International Hippocratic Foundation in Kos underscored the dual role of medicine as both a scientific and humanitarian pursuit.
Hippocratic Week will conclude with a ceremony of the Hippocratic Oath in Kos at the ancient Asclepieion.