New information has raised further questions about the conditions under which plasmapheresis treatments are carried out in Cyprus. A case involving an allegedly unlicensed centre in the Aradippou area was referred to the Ministry of Health in 2023, before being investigated by police and sent to the Legal Service. No criminal proceedings were ultimately brought.
The issue has entered the public debate following the death of Giorgos Mazonakis and reports in Greece concerning the conditions under which the singer allegedly underwent plasmapheresis. The allegations recorded in Cyprus indicate that the problem is neither theoretical nor remote, as the competent authorities have repeatedly received complaints about unlicensed or disputed medical practices.
Case referred to Legal Service
Politis previously revealed a formal complaint alleging that a patient developed complications after undergoing plasmapheresis at premises whose licensing status had raised serious concerns. The patient was reportedly transferred to the American Medical Center and admitted to an intensive care unit.
New information indicates that the Ministry of Health sent a letter to the police in November 2023 requesting an investigation. Police completed their inquiries and forwarded the case file to the Legal Service.
The Legal Service concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish a case and no further criminal action was taken.
However, the absence of a prosecution leaves unanswered broader questions about how premises advertising medical or quasi-medical procedures as anti-ageing, “detoxification” or rejuvenation treatments are monitored, what criteria are applied and how effectively regulations are enforced.
The anti-ageing grey market
According to well-informed sources, Cyprus does not have a single, specific legislative framework covering the expanding market for wellness, anti-ageing and allegedly therapeutic services.
The internet has compounded the problem. Various centres can advertise services promising “rejuvenation”, “age reversal”, detoxification or increased longevity, creating the impression that the procedures involved are virtually risk-free.
The Ministry of Health has already urged the public to exercise particular caution over advertised alternative treatments that lack scientific evidence. It has also called on members of the public to report procedures being provided illegally at unlicensed premises.
The problem is not limited to plasmapheresis. The Cyprus Medical Association has periodically received complaints about medical procedures allegedly being carried out at unsuitable premises or without the required medical supervision.
According to information received, the complaints have included injectable cosmetic procedures such as Botox allegedly being administered at beauty salons or even hair salons without the appropriate medical personnel present.
In 2025, the Pharmaceutical Services announced that inspections at beauty institutes and medical practices had identified the administration of Botox and Dysport products obtained outside the legal supply chain.
Plasmapheresis requires a clear medical indication
Haematologist and Pancyprian Union of Government Doctors President Sotiris Koumas said plasmapheresis is a specialised therapeutic procedure that should be performed only when there is a clear, scientifically supported medical indication.
Speaking to Politis radio programme Defteri Matia, Koumas said the procedure is carried out at public hospitals within organised facilities and by specialised medical and nursing staff.
Around two cases a year in Limassol
Discussing how frequently the treatment is used, Koumas said that, within haematology and based on his experience in Limassol, an average of approximately two cases may be recorded each year.
He clarified that one case does not necessarily involve a single procedure, as a patient may require a series of sessions.
“A patient may need 10 sessions or 20,” he said, noting that the overall number of procedures is therefore considerably higher than the number of patients receiving the treatment.
Koumas added that the number of cases in Nicosia may be higher because of the hospital’s size and patient volume. Plasmapheresis may also be used by other medical specialties, including neurology, depending on the condition and clinical indications.
Risks associated with plasmapheresis
Koumas stressed that the procedure carries risks. It can cause arrhythmias due to changes in electrolyte levels, as well as serious allergic or anaphylactic reactions.
He did not rule out more severe complications in extreme cases, although he said he had never personally encountered a fatal case.
Asked about claims that plasmapheresis can slow ageing or increase longevity, Koumas declined to comment. He noted, however, that its benefits have been demonstrated only when the procedure is used correctly, for a specific purpose and for indications supported by scientific studies.
Calls for renewed inspections
Doctor Vassos Oikonomou told Sigma that medical centres in Cyprus are allegedly carrying out procedures without the required licences, while the authorities do not always intervene effectively.
He said there were two or three cases that the authorities had been unable to stop and called for all medical practices to undergo renewed inspections.
Oikonomou also said he had received a letter from a competent authority concerning an instance of alleged illegal practice. According to him, the position communicated was that there was no reason for the authorities to intervene because the patient had not suffered harm.
He strongly rejected this approach, arguing that a potentially dangerous and illegal medical procedure should not be addressed only after harm has occurred.
