Patients’ Rights and Equal Access: Health as a Pillar of the Cypriot EU Presidency

As the European Union enters a period of intense geopolitical shifts and fiscal pressures, the discussion on the priorities of the current Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU becomes critically important. While the agenda often focuses on security and the digital transition, there is one area that touches the very core of human dignity and social cohesion: health and patients’ rights.

In Cyprus, the implementation of the General Healthcare System (GeSY) has been a landmark social achievement, grounded in the principle of solidarity and universal coverage. However, the existence of a system does not automatically guarantee the full safeguarding of its users’ rights in every aspect of their lives. True democracy in health requires continuous improvement, protection of the welfare state, and above all, the active participation of citizens themselves in shaping the policies that affect them.

Within this context, the European project EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5), implemented in Cyprus by the research centre CARDET, acts as a bridge. It conveys the concerns and proposals of civil society to decision-making centres, ensuring that citizens’ voices contribute actively and constructively to shaping a fairer European agenda.

Such a meaningful intervention took place last April.

Through the “Open Dialogue Series” organised by CARDET on the topic “Patients’ Rights in Cyprus”, a platform for vibrant public dialogue was created, highlighting both the immense potential and the challenges of the current system. Moderated by journalist Mr. Constantinos Constantinou, the speakers—Ms. Marina Nicolaou, Member of Parliament and member of the Parliamentary Health Committee, and Mr. Eftychios Papamichael, Secretary General of EKYSY,—addressed the issues that concern the grassroots of our society on a daily basis.

One of the main conclusions of the consultation was the need for a system that effectively protects the most vulnerable groups of the population. Despite significant progress, the cost of certain medications continues to create inequalities, placing a particular burden on low-income pensioners and patients with chronic conditions.

At the same time, the pressing needs in the field of mental health highlight the state’s obligation to substantially strengthen public structures for rehabilitation, reintegration, and support. No patient should feel helpless.

The importance of these consultations, however, extends beyond our national borders. As the EU advances the vision of a “European Health Union”, with the central aim of strengthening the resilience of public health systems, the experiences of Cypriot patients and the evidence-based proposals of civil society can make a meaningful contribution to this dialogue.

By leveraging the momentum of the current Cypriot Presidency, we have the opportunity to showcase the social dimension of Europe, demonstrating in practice that citizens’ true security is inherently linked to social justice and equal access to healthcare. It is precisely here that civil society, through organisations such as CARDET and initiatives like EUPP5, proves to be the catalyst that transforms policy declarations into tangible results. Active citizen participation is not merely a right, but the cornerstone of a resilient welfare state.

Health is a public good, and the protection of patients’ rights must remain at its core. Only through participatory democracy, empathy, and tangible solidarity can we build a society—and a Europe—that truly leaves no one behind.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is  co-funded  by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.   

Nikolas Athinis,
CARDET Project Manager

The article was published at the PolicyPress.