Table 7.

Strengths and weaknesses summary of the child health care system in Cyprus

Limitations of the child health system in Cyprus

• Lack of universal free access to primary care.

• Lack of standard protocols and guidelines for children with chronic illnesses.

• Numerous gaps in the management of childhood and adolescence mental health problems.

• Absence of certain paediatric subspecialties in the public sector (e.g. paediatric rheumatology, metabolic medicine).

• Lack of computerised electronic health records and IT systems.

• Continuing education courses for child health professionals.

• Limited quality assurance monitoring systems for children with acute and chronic illnesses and for immunizations.

• Equity issues to service access.

Lack of adequately developed, well-coordinated, multidisciplinary team for children with mental health problems or complex medical needs, further affected by the limited skill mix between professionals associated to child health.

• Establishment of a better-coordinated care for children with neurodevelopmental disorders is urgently needed. input by a team of health professionals consisting of general pediatricians, paediatric neurologists, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and social workers.

Recent developments in child health care in Cyprus

• Setting-up a new neonatal level 2 unit and a child-adolescent mental health inpatient unit.

• Improvement of welfare and child protection services.

• Improvement of school health services.