Parliament on Thursday approved the establishment of a legislative framework for the creation and operation of Units for the Application of Haematopoietic Stem Cells in the Republic of Cyprus. The initiative is expected to facilitate allogeneic transplants, bringing substantial benefits to patients and their families.
The bill was introduced by Disy MPs Efthymios Diplaros, Savvia Orfanidou, and Charalambos Pazaros, representing their party’s parliamentary group.
According to the proponents, implementing allogeneic transplants in Cyprus will address a range of social, psychological, economic, and professional challenges faced by patients and their families who previously had to travel abroad for treatment. The measure will also enhance the quality of healthcare delivered in Cyprus and reduce government expenditure on overseas medical care, funds that can instead be invested in the necessary domestic infrastructure.
Health ministry recommendations
The Ministry of Health submitted recommendations to amend certain provisions of the bill. These include allowing the Minister of Health to set the maximum annual number of transplants per unit to maintain expertise, and establishing a Technical Committee to handle unit establishment applications, ensuring decisions are not made by a single individual.
Other amendments cover the expansion of unit specifications, the possibility for some services to be provided within the wider hospital or through agreements with other providers, and stricter criteria for unit directors, including increased experience requirements. The nurse-to-patient ratio will be raised to one nurse per two transplant patients, with accreditation by an appropriate international body.
A scientific committee will advise the Minister on developments in allogeneic transplants and suggest legislative modifications to ensure optimal and safe patient care. The legislation also sets minimum hospital requirements for units, staff training standards, accessibility for people with disabilities, and protocols for record-keeping, traceability systems, and collaboration with the National Registry of Voluntary Stem Cell and Umbilical Cord Blood Donors.
'Historic moment'
Savvia Orfanidou described the vote as a “historic moment,” noting that for years such transplants were only possible abroad, causing considerable hardship for patients and their families. She emphasised that Cyprus, which maintains one of the world’s largest donor registries per capita, now has the opportunity to offer hope and relief to those in need of treatment.
DIKO MP Panikos Leonidou said the legislation addresses the core of social policy and responsibility towards citizens battling life-threatening illnesses. He added that it strengthens service quality and safety, with strict operational standards and control mechanisms aligned with international best practice.
DISY MP Efthymios Diplaros, Chair of the Health Committee, described the law as “a deeply human reform that directly impacts the quality of life of patients and their families,” adding that it establishes the regulatory framework for specialised units, allowing patients to receive high-level treatment in Cyprus with safety, quality, and dignity.
Other MPs, including Giorgos Penintaeks of DIIPA, Giorgos Loukaidis of AKEL, and Andreas Apostolou of Larnaca, praised the legislation for improving patient care, reducing the need for treatment abroad, and enhancing the country’s capacity to become a regional hub for advanced medical services.
The law is expected to mark a new chapter in Cyprus’s healthcare system, providing local access to life-saving allogeneic transplants and improving overall patient outcomes.