Over 1 in 3 hospital patients have responded to a government text message asking their opinion on health services, Deputy Health Minister Marios Themistocleous told Skai on Wednesday.

"The first SMSs have been sent to patients and we already have a very good participation rate to now. More than one in three, over 30%, have responded. It is very good for a start, and we will have the first conclusions shortly," Themistocleous said.

The deputy minister also said that when the new health information number, 1566, went into effect on Tuesday (July 15), "it received around 2,500 calls, and everyone was helped." The number replaces all information lines on health-related issues except for the ambulance service (EKAV).

(Photograph: Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis)