The cabinet on Thursday approved a new annual grant scheme for undergraduate nursing and midwifery students, with Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides describing it as “a particularly important step towards addressing “perhaps the most pressing issue in the country’s health sector”; the shortage of nursing staff. Speaking after the cabinet meeting, Charalambides said the scheme would take effect from the 2026-27 academic year and would be available to both new and existing students. Recipients will also be required to work for two years in healthcare institutions in Cyprus after completing their studies. “According to the available data, the campaign has succeeded in doubling the number of undergraduate nursing students over the past two years,” he said. Meanwhile, the Cyprus Federation of Patient Associations (Osak) welcomed the introduction of the grant scheme, describing it as “a positive initiative” towards strengthening the healthcare workforce.