NICOSIA - A total of 69.612 patients were admitted for treatment and discharged from the general hospitals during 2009, recording an increase of 4,8% over the previous year, according to the annual report “Health and Hospital Statistics” for the year 2009 prepared and announced Thursday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

A press release issued by the Statistical Service said that the Report provides statistical information relating to the medical services of the public sector. It provides, inter alia, data on in-patients, surgical operations, out-patient attendances, bed occupancy rates, information on medical, nursing and paramedical personnel, various health indicators etc.

Outlining the main developments which were recorded in 2009 compared to 2008, the Report notes that injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes have the highest share, 11,5% of the total patients discharged from general hospitals, followed by diseases of the circulatory system 9,0%, diseases of the respiratory system 7,9%, diseases of the digestive system 7,6%, neoplasms 6,6%, pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium 6,3% and diseases of the genitourinary system 6,1%.

According to the Report, 30.342 surgical operations performed on in-patients and out-patients recorded a decrease of 10,3% over the previous year. Operations on the general surgery accounted for 24,8% of all operations performed on in patients followed by orthopaedic with 23,5% and gynaecology-maternity with 12,4%.

It is noted that out-patients attendances increased by 9,0% over the previous year, reaching 1.819.169, of which 52,2% represented attendances at rural hospitals and health centers, while a total of 411.951 patients visited the Casualty Departments of the general hospitals, recording an increase of 4,9% over the previous year.

Based on the Report, total expenditure on health services during 2009 is estimated at 1.190,6 mn euro of which 551,3 mn euro represent expenditure of the public sector and 639,3 mn euro of the private sector, while the share of expenditure on health as a percentage to G.D.P increased from 6,7 % in 2008 to 7,1% in 2009.