Speaking on Radio Politis the day after Politis reported on gaps in pharmacy coverage and longstanding patient group demands, Cyprus Pharmacists Association (CPA) President Ploutarchos Georgiades was unequivocal: the hours are not changing.
He cited the democratic legitimacy of the current schedule, which was approved by 87% of pharmacists at a general assembly following a consultation initiated by the then Minister of Health. That vote, he said, was taken seriously by the Ministry and forms the basis of the current arrangement.
When asked whether the time had come to revisit the issue, Georgiadis responded: "How can it be overturned?"
Patient federation demands rejected
Calls from the Cyprus Federation of Patient Associations (OSAK) for extended midday hours, more duty pharmacies, and overnight availability do not, in Georgiadis's view, constitute sufficient grounds for a review.
System meets public needs, association says
The CPA president maintained that the existing system adequately serves the public. Duty pharmacies are selected on geographical criteria to cover different areas, and their numbers increase during disease outbreaks. After 23:00, the responsible pharmacist remains on call, reachable by phone and able to arrive at the pharmacy within ten minutes.
In rural and mountain communities, he noted, pharmacies operate on flexible hours tailored to local needs. Similar flexibility applies to coastal tourist areas during the summer through seasonal pharmacies. Georgiadis also cited European comparators, noting that pharmacies in the United Kingdom operate not on open hours but on set schedules with a duty rota.
Door open to duty pharmacy talks
The only concession Georgiadis offered concerns duty pharmacies specifically. If the Pharmaceutical Services and the CPA jointly identify a documented need, an increase in their numbers could be considered.
"We are open to discussion. We want to facilitate patients," he said.
Pharmacist as primary care provider
Georgiadis reiterated the CPA's vision of the pharmacy as a primary healthcare centre, noting that the association has long sought permission for pharmacies to administer vaccines — a practice already in place across most of Europe. "The pharmacist is the most accessible healthcare professional," he said.
The question raised by Monday's Politis report remains open: how accessible is that professional when pharmacy hours mirror those of commercial shops, and gaps in duty pharmacy coverage across the island remain unresolved?
