The Cyprus Radiological Society (CRS) has condemned the Health Insurance Organisation’s (OAY) decision to replace radiologists with “other doctors” for conducting radiological examinations starting January 2025. In a statement, the CRS urged the OAY’s President and Board members to reconsider the matter during their meeting on 9 January.
The CRS suggested providing a grace period of up to six months before January 2026 for radiology centres to hire radiologists, arguing that centres unwilling to comply will likely never do so, as they have already indicated.
The Society also called for the immediate termination of contracts with centres failing to comply, as the existing agreements specify that radiologists conducting examinations must be “doctors specialising in radiology” in accordance with General Healthcare System (GeSy) legislation.
The CRS claims that the OAY’s decision, approved by the Board on 19 December, was based on misleading proposals that were either inaccurately presented or misinterpreted, even referencing the CRS by name.
The argument of a shortage of radiologists was refuted, with the Society stating there are 184 registered radiologists, sufficient to meet demand.
The statement emphasised the necessity of radiologists’ physical presence during CT and MRI scans, noting that the presence of “other doctors” is unnecessary.
The CRS called for the immediate revocation of this decision and pledged to protect citizens by ensuring quality standards through adherence to European guidelines.
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Source: CNA
