President of Cyprus appoints new health Minister

Former Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health Androulla Agrotou, was appointed Monday as the new Health Minister in replacement of Stavros Malas who resigned to run for the presidential elections in February.

During a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, President Demetris Christofias noted that the appointment of Agrotou increases for the first time in the history of the Republic the number of women in the Cabinet to four.

The President said that in the limited but very critical period up to the end of the term of the present Government, everyone should give their best to address the problems of the economic crisis and the crisis in the banking system of Cyprus. He added that the Government is working hard in consultation with all social partners and political parties to reach the necessary understanding as regards the economy and together pursue common goals to serve the country’s best interest.

The Government, he said, is trying to mitigate as much as possible the social costs of the proposals for the rescue of Cyprus economy given by Troika (IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank).

“At this juncture and for the best interests of the Cypriot people I really hope that responsibility, maturity and logic will prevail in the domestic front so we can move forward,” he said.

The President expressed his gratitude to the former Minster of Health, saying that Stavros Malas within his relatively short term at the leadership of the Ministry of Health has done substantial work and promoted radical changes.

Addressing the new Health Minister, President Christofias said he expects her active participation and contribution to the hot issues the Government faces at this stage, adding that there should not be any discount on health issues.

Agrotou said she sees the short time that awaits her in the Ministry of Health, until next February, as an incentive for hard work.

“I know that my term in the Ministry will be short. This does not disappoint me, but I see it as an incentive for hard collective work, to meet all your commitments for health, methodically and efficiently and for the continuation and completion of the project of my predecessor”, she said addressing President Christofias.

She also expressed her gratitude to the President for his trust and the honor to appoint her to the office of the Minister of Health.

Agrotou committed herself to do her outmost to carry out the tasks assigned to her, having accumulated experience and expertise on health issues.