Nicosia: Innovation in health is not limited to new medicines or technologies, but also involves new ways of thinking, modern care models, and policies that make systems fairer, more effective, and more sustainable, said Minister of Health Michalis Damianos, who participated on Monday as a keynote speaker at the 24th Annual HealthWorld Conference, which continues in Athens until September 30, 2025.
According to Cyprus News Agency, in his address, Damianos presented the European initiatives supporting this course – the Pharmaceutical Strategy, the Health Technology Assessment, the Critical Medicines Act, the European Health Data Space Regulation, the EU’s health program (EU4Health), and the establishment of DG HERA – which aims at the prevention, early detection, and rapid response to health crises. He highlighted the need for close cooperation between states, industry, patients, and the academic community.
He emphasized the ongoing challenges, such as access inequalities, especially for smaller states like Cyprus. He also pointed to national actions for digital transformation, the development of e-health applications, and participation in artificial intelligence projects.
Concluding, the Minister of Health stressed that innovation is a fundamental right and a prerequisite for the sustainability of health systems and equal care for every European citizen.
Damianos departs on Monday from Athens for Doha, Qatar, where he will participate in the 6th Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, taking place from September 30 to October 1.