On Christmas Eve, two women in urgent need of medical treatment were turned away by a private hospital in Nicosia.
The first one arrived at the private hospital with an aortic aneurysm and, without being seen to when she arrived, was immediately told to go to the A&E department of the Nicosia general hospital.
The second woman arrived complaining of a severe gastroenterological issue but was told to visit a different private hospital because all the specialists at the premises were on leave.
Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela said on Thursday that what happened was “unacceptable.”
“I have already contacted the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) and they assured me that exemplary penalties will be bestowed upon the people responsible for sending away the two patients,” he told daily Phileleftheros.
“It is not possible to send patients away and tell them that all doctors are on leave just because it is a holiday period. I took it upon myself to make sure that situations such as these do not happen again. Health issues do not stop at Christmas.
“Doctors cannot select specific cases and send the rest of them to already overburdened A&E departments,” the health minister said, adding that the HIO must take responsibility for the issues.
The head of the federation of Cyprus patients’ associations (Osak) Marios Kouloumas said what happened on Christmas Eve is simply unacceptable.
“For a long time, we have denounced such problems, which unfortunately happen quite often” he told Phileleftheros.
“Doctors working at private clinics cannot choose what cases they see to based on personal interest. It is time for someone at the HIO to take responsibility and put an end to this absurd practice.
“It is unthinkable that patients in need urgent medical care are sent away from hospitals because doctors are on leave. How can clinics operate when not even one specialised doctor of a specific department is on call?”
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