The Cyprus Medical Association (CMA) has appointed an investigating officer to examine complaints involving 10 doctors who issued medical certificates for prison officers who accumulated thousands of days of sick leave during the first seven months of 2026.
The move follows a complaint submitted by Justice Minister Constantinos Fytiris, who provided the CMA with a list of doctors linked to cases involving unusually high levels of absence from the Department of Prisons.
5,548 sick-leave days in seven months
As previously reported by Politis, 54 prison employees, including 38 prison guards, 12 chief prison guards and four officers, received a combined 5,548 days of sick leave between January and July 2026.
The figure relates only to employees who were absent for more than 42 days, meaning the total number of sick-leave days within the department is likely considerably higher.
The minister has asked the CMA to determine whether the doctors who issued the certificates acted appropriately.
The 54 cases under review
Officers: 729 days
Four of the department's eight officers recorded:
- 208 days of sick leave
- 192 days
- 178 days
- 151 days
Together, they accounted for 729 days of absence.
One officer was absent for 208 days during a seven-month period comprising just 212 calendar days.
Chief prison guards: 1,278 days
Twelve chief prison guards accumulated 1,278 days of sick leave.
Among them were absences of:
- 211 days
- 210 days
- 172 days
- 160 days
during the first seven months of the year.
Prison guards: 3,541 days
Thirty-eight prison guards accounted for 3,541 days of absence.
The average amounted to approximately 93 days per employee.
Eighteen of the 38 guards recorded 100 days or more of sick leave, while some cases involved absences of 197, 191 and 162 days respectively.
Two doctors also facing criminal investigation
According to information obtained by Politis, the list sent to the CMA includes two doctors who are already the subject of a criminal investigation.
The investigation was launched after the Audit Office referred evidence to the Law Office in March following its special report on the Department of Prisons.
The report said its findings created "serious suspicions of collusion between doctors and prison guards."
The criminal investigation concerns:
- A general physician, who also serves as a personal doctor.
- An orthopaedic specialist.
Audit findings raised questions
According to the Audit Office findings, a number of certificates issued by the general physician related to conditions typically associated with orthopaedic treatment, including:
- Osteoarthritis.
- Sprains.
- Knee injuries.
- Cervical syndrome.
Auditors also found the reverse situation, with the orthopaedic specialist issuing a sick-leave certificate for a prison guard citing migraine as the reason for absence.
Eight prison officers examined in detail
Auditors conducted an extensive review of eight prison guards who had been absent for prolonged periods.
All eight submitted dozens of certificates issued by the same two doctors.
In one case, a prison guard who was absent for 205 days in 2023 and 202 days in 2024 submitted 51 certificates in one year and 60 certificates the next.
Auditors found that:
- 48 of 51 certificates (94%) in 2023 were issued by the two doctors.
- 57 of 60 certificates (95%) in 2024 were issued by the same doctors.
Concerns over possible fraud
The Audit Office said the high number of sick-leave certificates, the repeated involvement of the same doctors, the absence of recorded visits in the General Healthcare System (Gesy), discrepancies in dates and inconsistencies in diagnoses collectively raised serious concerns.
According to the report, the findings created strong suspicions of potential collusion between doctors and prison officers aimed at defrauding the state.
