Two cooperation agreements in the field of transplantation and in the field of kidney transplantation were signed today by the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, and the Minister of Health of Cyprus, Michalis Damianos.
In his remarks, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis stressed that this agreement could be the beginning of many agreements. “We always support cooperation between Greece and Cyprus,” he said, adding: “I want to send a message to all our Cypriot compatriots that Greece is here to help in any difficult time and to those in need.”
For his part, the Cypriot Minister of Health, Michalis Damianos, stressed that the signing of these agreements confirms the commitment of both governments to universal and equal healthcare, ensuring that no citizen, regardless of the rarity of their case, will be left without the necessary care. “For us, the right to health is non-negotiable. After all, transplants are not only about saving lives, but also about improving the quality of life of patients,” he stressed.
As he explained, the first agreement concerns the cross-linked kidney transplants; “This agreement is expected to significantly increase treatment options for patients suffering from kidney failure, allowing exchange of organs between the two countries in cases of incompatibility between donor and recipient. If a donor in Cyprus or Greece is not compatible with their recipient, there will now be the possibility of exchanging kidneys with a compatible couple from the other country, thus increasing the chances of a successful transplant,” explained Mr Damianos.
The second agreement concerns the lung transplants. As part of this agreement, the Cypriot patients to undergo lung transplant at Onassios Cardiac Surgery Centrethat has the necessary know-how and infrastructure. “In addition, the agreement provides for possibility of donating organs from Cyprus to the Hellenic Transplant Organizationwhen these cannot be used in our country”, noted the Cypriot Minister of Health. In this way, he added, “we ensure the best management of available organs and the fastest response to the needs of patients in both countries”.
Also present at the signing of the agreements were Deputy Minister of Health Marios Themistokleous and Director General of the Ministry of Health of Cyprus Christina Giannaki. In her remarks, Themistokleous noted that “today we are initiating a new agreement, a practical proof of the very close cooperation that has existed for years but which we are trying to develop between Greece and Cyprus”.
“The field of transplantation is one of the most important fields that can save patients’ lives and also drastically improve their quality of life. We have been working for years to explore all the possibilities of science in this field. The results are beginning to be seen and our country is constantly updating itself in the area of transplantation. The aim of this initiative is to help as many patients as possible from both states,” he added.