Famagusta governor raises staffing concerns at Paralimni hospital
Famagusta district governor Yiannis Karousos requested immediate action and a timetable to address specialist staffing shortages at Famagusta general hospital.
Paralimni, Cyprus. Famagusta district governor Yiannis Karousos on Friday raised concerns over what he described as serious staffing shortages at Famagusta general hospital, calling for immediate answers from the health ministry and the state health services organisation, Okypy.
He said the hospital lacks permanent coverage in several basic medical specialities despite serving the free Famagusta district and a major tourist area.
Request for answers
Karousos said he had written to Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides and Okypy seeking immediate answers and a specific timetable for addressing the shortages.
He said the hospital has no permanent pulmonologist, with a non-permanent specialist visiting only three or four times a month, although serious pulmonary cases are treated there.
Specialist coverage
A neurologist is present at the hospital only once a week, Karousos said, despite the treatment of stroke cases and other serious nervous system diseases. He added that the waiting list for examinations exceeds six or seven months.
He also said the hospital previously had daily coverage by an ophthalmologist but no longer has a corresponding permanent presence, despite cases that may require immediate ophthalmological assessment.
Staff transfers
Karousos said he had requested information on whether doctors or other staff previously based in Paralimni had been transferred elsewhere and, if so, the reasons for those moves.
He said Famagusta was not seeking preferential treatment, but adequate daily coverage in basic medical specialities for a district-level hospital serving residents across the free district and one of Cyprus’ largest tourist areas.
Karousos said the issue was one of public health, patient safety and equal treatment for the Famagusta district, rather than a partisan matter. He called on the health ministry and Okypy to provide specific answers, actions and a clear timetable, saying the hospital must be strengthened immediately.
This news item was generated automatically by Cyprus Inform from publicly available materials. Report an error →