Ministers agree measures to speed prisoner hospital care and strengthen forensic services

Nicosia, Cyprus. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris and Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides agreed on Friday to measures aimed at reducing delays in prisoners’ treatment at public hospitals, improving the handling of psychiatric cases and strengthening forensic medicine services.

Hospital arrangements for prisoners

Designated parking spaces will be reserved at hospitals for police vehicles transporting prisoners to accident and emergency departments, where prisoners will be examined as a priority.

Specially adapted holding areas will also be created inside hospitals to reduce delays and the time police officers spend accompanying prisoners while they wait for examinations.

Psychiatric and forensic procedures

The ministers agreed to amend the psychiatric hospitalisation law to simplify procedures for transporting, receiving and handing over people who require psychiatric assessment or hospitalisation.

The forensic medicine service will receive additional staff, and services will be purchased from external associates to meet existing needs. Its operating protocol will be updated and given to police, clarifying the procedures officers should follow and when a forensic pathologist’s presence or assistance is required.

Regional morgues and investigations

Morgues outside Nicosia will gradually reopen, starting with Limassol, to reduce the number of cases transported to the capital. Regional morgues will handle non-forensic cases, while forensic cases will continue to be handled in Nicosia.

The ministers also discussed delays in investigations into alleged medical negligence. Authorities said the delays were partly due to difficulties finding doctors able to provide the specialised scientific expertise required.