Angelos Tropis said that spending for Gesy services to some 920,000 beneficiaries in 2021 was €1.2 billion.

“Based on preliminary results expenditure for 2021 will be equalled more or less by total revenue,” he said

The HIO has built up reserves of some €300 million from which any ‘marginal deficits’ could be covered, and which ensure the viability of the fund over the next few years, he added.

Of the €1.21billion, Tropis said that €227 million concerned outpatient care by specialist doctors, €87.7 million for personal doctors, €53.5 million for labs, €32.7 million for pharmacists, €36.7 million for other health professionals (physiotherapists, dentists, and others) and €180 million for out-patient medicine. In-hospital care costs accounted for €563 million, while casualty and ambulance services absorbed €32.4 million.

As regards revenue from deductions, he said that available data covers the first 10 months of 2021 and amounted to €935.3 million. Revenue from co-pay contributions stood at €45.1 million for all of 2021.

Tropis said that the 2022 budget had been amended at the instructions of the finance ministry with the deduction of the €55 million in state subsidies (€30 million public health expenditure and €25 million because the planned increase in deductions had been suspended because of the pandemic)

“Expenditure is balanced with revenue, the budget will not be in deficit and the relevant amendments have been made relating to job positions,” he said.

Overall, the 2022 budget projects revenue of €1.39 billion and expenditure of €1.38 billion. The budget has been submitted to parliament for approval.

Source: Cyprus Mail