Country Assessment for HeAltH & structural funds. cyprus (cy) Table 1: Country assessment summary - Cyprus. Potential health source Personal.

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1 Health and Structural funds in : Country Assessment for HeAltH & structural funds cyprus (cy) Table 1: Country assessment summary Cyprus NSRF strategic objectives Funding Direct Indirect Potential health source health sector health sector gain investment investment Personal Economic Social Environmental Strengthening the productive base of the economy and supporting enterprises E, S Creating a knowledgebased society and promoting RTD and innovation E, S Human resources, employment and cohesion ESF P, E, S Environmental, transport and energy infrastructures Env, E, S Developing sustainable communities P, E, S, Env Lisbon Agenda (renewed 2005) To create a more attractive investment and working environment; To enhance growth through knowledge and innovation; To create more and better jobs. Table 2: Eligible regions under Cohesion Policy Objectives Cohesion Policy Objective Regions Convergence N/A Phasing out N/A Phasing in Cyprus Regional competitiveness and employment N/A 13

2 Health and Structural funds in : Table 2: Eligible regions under Cohesion Policy Objectives Background: The country has a total population of 703,529, an increase of 14.4% compared with 1991 (615,013 inhabitants in 1992), while the total population for 2005 is estimated at 766,400. Men account for 49.1% and women for 50.9% of the total population. Life expectancy in 2002/2003 was 77 years for men (EU average 75) and 81.4 for women (EU average 81.2). According to mediumterm demographic forecasts, there will be a gradual increase in the population aged over 65 up to the year 2050 in relation to the workingage population. The consequences of gradual ageing will impact to a large extent on the content of the mediumterm strategy for the labour market and the development of the labour force. This is a particular challenge if Cyprus is to achieve sustainable economic development together with cohesion as a basis for real convergence with the EU and improve the ability of the economy to integrate fully into the EU internal market. The overall framework of the strategic development programme is contained in the Strategic Development Plan , which defines the mediumterm strategic objectives, and in the National Reform Programme, which is a threeyear action plan for Cyprus s contribution to the attainment of the objectives set out in the Renewed Lisbon Strategy. Critically, the EC recommended reform of the health system in order to improve longterm viability of public finances. Currently, health expenditure as a percentage of GDP is 6.2% compared to an EU average of 8.5%. As the NSRF makes clear, this is not simply about improving the quality of and accessibility to health services. In this respect, priorities for the health sector in Cyprus are set out in the National Report on Health Strategy and LongTerm Care (National Report on Social Protection and Social Integration Strategies ) with interventions mostly funded from national resources. Perhaps as important for tackling population demographics and economic development, the limited resources available for cohesion policy will be used to cofinance targeted interventions in the health sector which will contribute more broadly to and economic development in Cyprus, including the development of human resources. NSRF interventions will be in synergy with other interventions cofinanced purely from national resources. The health sector will benefit under the NSRF strategy from interventions under other thematic priorities cofinanced by ERDF, ESF and (see Tables 3 4). Source: Republic of Cyprus Planning Bureau Structural Funds. National Strategic Reference Framework for Cohesion Policy April Table 3: Programme period health investment in the NSRF and OPs Allocation of money in the SF Source and budget ERDF 279,461,354; ESF 119,769,152; 213,204,484 Total 612 million Health sector % of total allocated SF Unknown NSRF strategic objectives (with OP relevance and funding source) Strengthening the productive base of the economy and supporting enterprises (OP SDC ) Creating a knowledgebased society and promoting RTD and innovation (OP SDC ) Human resources, employment and cohesion (OP EHCSC ESF) Environmental, transport and energy infrastructures (OP SDC ) Developing sustainable communities (OP SDC ) Operational Programmes Sustainable development and competitiveness (OP SDC) Employment, Human Capital and Social Cohesion (OP EHCSC) 14

3 Health and Structural funds in : Table 3: Programme period health investment in the NSRF and OPs Direct health sector investment (with NSRF/OP relevance) None identified. Health sector priorities will be largely funded from national resources (NSRF, page 87). SF resources will be used to cofinance targeted interventions in the health sector that contribute more broadly to and economic development (see next element). Indirect health sector investment (with NSRF/OP relevance) Develop medical tourism through interventions which help to enrich the tourist product and upgrade services (under the thematic priority Strengthening the productive base of the economy and supporting enterprises and SDC Operational Programme ). Promote ehealth through interventions that involve linking central hospitals to medical centres in rural areas and that also foster the implementation of important measures included in the National Reform Programme, such as expansion of the broadband network, ecommerce etc. (under the thematic priority Creating a knowledgebased society and promoting RTD and innovation and SDC Operational Programme ). Promote specific interventions to upgrade health workers skills within an integrated system of continuing training for medical staff and health professionals in general, especially in view of the needs created by the introduction of the National Health System (under the thematic priority Human resources, employment and cohesion and EHCSC Operational Programme ). Upgrade/strengthen primary and secondary care in rural (especially remote mountain) areas, thereby helping to improve their accessibility and improve the quality of life (an analysis of the overall strategy in rural areas is included under the thematic priority Developing sustainable communities and SDC Operational Programme ). Strengthen independent and hospital specialist secondary and/or tertiary care centres/infrastructures in large towns within a rational system providing a high standard of health care (under the thematic priority Developing sustainable communities and SDC Operational Programme. Evidence of capacity to deliver intersectoral policy and planning The NSRF and OPs suggest where capacity exists and will be developed. Specifically, in terms of maximising health gain from Structural Funds capacity building is an approach to the development of sustainable skills, organisational structures, resources and commitment to health improvement in health and other sectors. An initial focus could include: organisation development (The Planning Bureau, Managing Agencies); workforce development (EHCSC), resources allocation, leadership (The Planning Bureau and Managing Agencies) and partnerships/networks (Cohesion Policy Coordinating Committee, Strategic Development Plan Committee). Regional planning and implementation (From OPs) Cyprus is treated as a single regional entity. No direct or indirect health investment projects are currently identified. 15

4 Health and Structural funds in : Table 4: Nonhealth sector investment with potential health gain Priority theme (and OP) Strengthening the productive base of the economy and supporting enterprises Relevant investments Introducing new technology and making greater use of ICT, supporting cooperation and networking between similar companies, especially new companies, and connecting them with centres promoting innovation, research centres and higher education institutions. Support for small and mediumsized enterprises in the form of an appropriate public support infrastructure is one of the main elements of the strategy to improve competitiveness. Special targeted actions to provide financial support to population groups who demonstrate little entrepreneurship will be promoted, with the emphasis on young people and women. Potential health gain Personal, Creating a knowledgebased society and promoting RTD and innovation Interventions under this thematic priority will focus on targeted actions to: strengthen infrastructures and promote RTD and innovation; Economic, develop applications in the information society with the aim of achieving digital convergence. These are complimentary to interventions in thematic priorities 1 and 3. 16

5 Health and Structural funds in : Table 4: Nonhealth sector investment with potential health gain Human resources, employment and cohesion (EHCSC) Attracting and retaining more people in employment especially by increasing participation in the labour market by persons belonging to ly vulnerable groups of the population focusing on interventions at local level to combat unemployment and exclusion and promote employment encouraging and support active ageing by maintaining and increasing jobs for the labour force over 55 years old improving women s access to the labour market and finding viable employment that reconciles work with family life. Strengthening cohesion and integration by promoting new employment opportunities/potential for persons belonging to ly vulnerable groups (including in the health service) raising the awareness of/mobilising society and the business community to accept and integrate persons belonging to vulnerable population groups (including along the health sector supply chain) supporting the process to integrate ly vulnerable groups in collaboration with /local agencies and government departments, mainly by creating and operating suitable structures and mechanisms. Strengthening/improving human resources by upgrading education and training systems and improve their correlation with labour market requirements systematically organising and strengthening the participation of human resources in lifelong learning programmes education and training actions for doctors in the framework of improving the health system and longterm health care Enhancing the administrative capacity of the public sector (including the public health service) by upgrading and restructuring the functioning of mechanisms used to improve planning, implementation/management and evaluation of policies, programmes and interventions extending and modernising the structures and infrastructures for serving citizens, workers and businesses. Personal, Environmental, transport and energy infrastructures Promoting recycling programmes (with sorting at source programmes or sorting units at disposal sites) in order to reduce the volume of waste disposed of at landfill sites (including the health sector, supply chain SMEs). In order to create environmentally sustainable transport networks, interventions will be cofinanced to completely upgrade public transport, construct a number of main roads which are urgently needed and create appropriate traffic regulations to relieve traffic congestion in the towns and implement interventions to improve road safety. Finally, action will be taken in conjunction with interventions to make towns more attractive to improve traffic without the use of private cars in towns (e.g. pedestrian zones and cycle routes). Environmental, 17

6 Health and Structural funds in : Table 4: Nonhealth sector investment with potential health gain Developing sustainable communities As part of urban regeneration, sectoral intervention and discretionary Personal, action are needed in order to highlight Community Added Value, such environmental, as: clean urban transport more green and open spaces better transport facilities for people with special needs the creation of appropriate infrastructures to upgrade cultural activities and protect the cultural heritage, promote entrepreneurship and the knowledgebased society and improve the quality of life by upgrading infrastructures. 18