Audit report finds body kept 1,040 days at Paphos hospital morgue

Paphos, Cyprus. A body remained refrigerated for 1,040 days at Paphos general hospital morgue, exceeding the prescribed 30-day period, according to an Audit Office report made public on Wednesday.

The report cited longstanding complaints about decomposition odours, the accumulation of bodies and poor hygiene, and said no corrective measures had been taken.

Inspection findings

The report followed an unannounced Audit Office inspection in May 2026, after press reports that a refrigerator had broken down and the morgue’s operation had been temporarily suspended by state health services organisation Okypy.

Inspectors were unable to enter the morgue because disinfection procedures were under way. Their findings were based on interviews with staff from the hospital, the health ministry, Okypy and the electromechanical services department, as well as correspondence.

The evidence indicated that bodies had remained refrigerated for extended periods and that international standards for storing bodies were not being implemented at Paphos general hospital, the report said.

Health and identification concerns

The Audit Office said the conditions concerned respect for the dead and their families, as well as hygiene, workplace safety and public health protection.

It added that prolonged storage could result in the incorrect identification of bodies and difficulties locating them when required.

Maintenance and oversight

The report said correspondence indicated that Okypy had been disregarding its responsibility for morgue operations and that critical equipment had not been adequately maintained.

The Audit Office said it could not confirm that refrigerator equipment had been maintained as frequently as required under the relevant contract.

Inspectors also found no fault-warning system was in place, with problems becoming apparent through bad smells in the hospital.