Cancer becomes leading cause of death in Cyprus for first time in 30 years

For the first time in three decades, cancer has surpassed cardiovascular diseases as the primary cause of death in the Republic of Cyprus. This finding was announced on Tuesday at the 12th Pancyprian Public Health Conference, organized by the Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII) and chaired by Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides.

Experts at the conference highlighted a significant disparity in public health investment, noting that Cyprus allocates only about 2% of its annual health budget to prevention, compared to a European average of 4%. Speakers, including Dr. Pavlos Drakos, emphasized the urgent need to address lifestyle factors such as smoking, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition. It was noted that over 80% of health-affecting factors lie outside the medical system, necessitating a stronger focus on environments like schools and daycare centers.

Looking ahead, Savia Orphanidou, chair of parliament’s Health Committee, has committed to reviewing the possibility of increasing funding for prevention initiatives. Further measures are expected to focus on stricter enforcement of anti-smoking regulations in public spaces and the promotion of healthy habits from early childhood to curb the anticipated rise in new cancer cases.