Cyprus is grappling with a critical shortage of nursing staff in its state hospitals, with a deficit of approximately 600 nurses, Health Minister Neofytos Charalambides revealed in parliament on Thursday. Calling nurses the “backbone of the healthcare system,” he warned that the shortage directly impacts patient safety and working conditions for healthcare workers. To address the crisis, the ministry is exploring short- and long-term measures, including a proposal to hire nurses from non-EU countries as a supplementary solution.