Cyprus parliamentary committee discusses need for permanent air ambulance service

The Cypriot parliamentary Health Committee recently held a meeting attended by Health Minister Neofytos Charalambidis and executives from the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) and the State Health Services Organization. The primary focus was the systemic delay in transferring critically ill patients abroad due to reliance on private air charter companies that are not stationed in Cyprus. Efi Kammitsi, General Director of the HIO, highlighted that the current dependence on international providers causes dangerous delays, citing a recent incident where a patient lost the opportunity for an urgent organ transplant because a flight could not be arranged within medical timeframes. The committee discussed the necessity of establishing a permanent, dedicated aircraft for air ambulance services, equipped with trained medical personnel. This proposal aims to eliminate the reliance on external private entities and ensure rapid response for patients requiring specialized treatment. Currently, the process of locating, chartering, and transporting an aircraft to Cyprus creates significant logistical hurdles that compromise patient safety. The government is now evaluating options for internalizing this critical medical transport capability.