New laws in Cyprus now protect healthcare workers. Lawmakers have made it a crime to attack doctors and nurses. This is because there were many worries about people being threatened in hospitals. The new law can lead to a prison sentence of up to four years.
The law also protects other important people. This includes police officers and public servants. It shows the government wants to keep public services safe. Some politicians said that verbal and physical attacks happen often. These attacks make staff feel bad and affect patient care. A specific crime will help stop these acts.
Nursing unions are very happy about the new law. They say protecting healthcare workers is a right. It is also the government's duty to keep them safe. They believe this law will help stop violence.
Lawmakers agreed that this is important for everyone. When healthcare workers feel threatened, it hurts patients too. The safety of health staff is linked to good public health. Many parties supported this law. This shows they agree on protecting public servants.
This change gives staff better legal help. It also shows they are valued. The law should help public services work better. However, it must be strongly enforced. Security and training will also be important. This new law is a big step for Cyprus. It shows that attacking public workers is wrong.