Psychologists hit out at HIO
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO)’s attitude is hindering the improvement of the healthcare system and the provision of high-quality services, psychologists charged on Monday.
It is failing to respond promptly or consistently to the review and potential implementation of proposals, the Cyprus Association of Psychologists said.
The association said it is now widely accepted that the inclusion of clinical psychologists in the national health scheme Gesy has positively contributed to the promotion of mental health.
“However, in the five years since Gesy’s introduction, we have repeatedly highlighted weaknesses and areas for improvement in the system to the HIO, aiming to protect contracted mental health professionals and ensure the quality of services for eligible individuals,” the psychologists said.
The main issues that require immediate attention and improvement, they said, include misdiagnoses or the distress experienced by both patients and mental health specialists.
They explained that psychological diagnoses are often listed on referrals by general or specialist doctors who do not have the necessary qualifications, knowledge or experience in mental health or mental illness diagnoses.
Furthermore, the association pointed out that the exclusion of other psychology specialisations from Gesy, such as counselling and educational psychologists, limits the freedom of choice for beneficiaries and access to psychologists with additional expertise.
The statement also added that other areas requiring urgent attention include the lack of coverage for all diagnoses in both minors and adults, the insufficient budget for compensating contracted psychologists, the limited number of sessions offered, and the absence of certain essential medical specialities, such as haematologists, in patient referrals.
“A healthcare system must improve based on current data and take into account the recommendations of professionals and users,” it concluded.