Cyprus urged to establish national policy for informal caregivers

Informal caregivers in Cyprus, who support elderly parents, disabled children, and patients with chronic illnesses, are advocating for a comprehensive national policy to address the lack of social and economic support. These individuals provide essential, unpaid care that serves as a pillar for thousands of families but often results in the loss of their own income, professional development, and social security contributions. A European study by Peña-Longobardo and Oliva-Moreno, based on 2016–2017 data, valued their contribution at 526 million euros annually, or 2.79% of the national GDP, starkly contrasting with the 0.3% of GDP spent on public long-term care services.

According to Marios Kantaris of the Cyprus Informal Carers Empowerment Network (Thalpo), these statistics are likely outdated given the aging population and increasing demand for care. Approximately 95,000 people in Cyprus provide nearly 87 million hours of unpaid care each year. The discussion has regained momentum following the release of a World Health Organization technical document that provides a framework for recognizing both paid and unpaid caregivers. This framework emphasizes the need for better training, improved working conditions, and robust social protection to integrate these efforts into national health planning.