The Health Ministry is examining complaints concerning the Hadassah Medical Centre in Limassol, amid questions about the scope of services it advertises and the licences under which they are provided.
According to ministry officials, the centre's only operating licence is for an imaging centre, despite promoting services that include cardiology assessments, specialist consultations and rehabilitation programmes.
Questions over telemedicine and medical responsibility
Hadassah highlights its connection with the Hadassah hospitals in Jerusalem, offering access to second medical opinions from Israel.
However, information obtained by Politis suggests that some examinations or treatments may, in certain cases, have involved doctors located in Israel participating via telephone or video link.
The reports have not been independently verified, and the centre did not provide a specific response when asked whether medical procedures are conducted in this manner.
The issue, according to the report, is who is physically present with the patient, performs any medical procedure and assumes clinical responsibility.
Who are the doctors?
Questions have also been raised about staffing.
Although the centre advertises services such as neurosurgery, surgery, orthopaedics and cardiology, only three doctors appear on its website.
A review of the published Cyprus Medical Register found a recognised specialty in General Medicine for one doctor. For the other names appearing online, the report said recognised specialties were not clearly identifiable from publicly available records.
The designation "Preventive, Regenerative Medicine and Longevity", used for one doctor, is not a recognised medical specialty in Cyprus, although the report notes that this does not in itself indicate a lack of medical qualifications.
After being contacted by Politis, the centre supplied a separate list containing 15 doctors and two clinical dietitians.
However, it remains unclear:
- Which doctors are based permanently in Limassol.
- Which provide services occasionally.
- Which are involved only in second opinions from abroad.
- Who serves as the supervising radiologist for the licensed imaging activities.
Plasmapheresis equipment reported
The report also examines links to AION, which uses the same address as Hadassah and presents itself as a preventive medicine and longevity clinic.
AION advertises plasmapheresis and ozone therapy, while referring to collaboration with the Hadassah network for clinical supervision and specialist opinions.
According to Politis, Health Ministry inspectors reportedly identified plasmapheresis equipment during a recent inspection.
The report further notes that a doctor presented by AION as supervising plasmapheresis procedures is also linked to the Apheresis Center Larnaca in Aradippou, whose operations were recently suspended by its owners amid complaints and a police investigation.
The newspaper said it could not independently verify that individual's registration and recognised specialty through the published Cyprus Medical Register.
Ministry: Only an imaging-centre licence
Deputy Director-General of the Health Ministry Dr Elisavet Constantinou told Politis that new complaints concerning the centre have recently been received and are being examined.
She clarified that Hadassah holds only a licence to operate as an imaging centre and does not possess a hospital licence or another healthcare-facility operating licence.
The report notes that this does not automatically mean any other activity is unlawful. Rather, the key question is which services are actually being provided, by whom and under which regulatory framework.
No official finding of wrongdoing has been announced.
Hadassah response
Chief executive Dr George Zachariadis said the centre is backed by Cypriot investors and operates as a bridge for patients seeking second opinions or treatment in Jerusalem.
He said more than 2,000 people have visited the centre and that it works with more than 15 doctors.
Asked why only three doctors appear on the website, he said patients can obtain information by telephone. A list of 15 doctors and two dietitians was later provided to the newspaper.
Zachariadis did not provide a direct answer regarding reports of doctors participating via teleconference.
He also denied that invasive treatments are carried out on the premises or that the centre collaborates with another medical centre or hospital in Cyprus.
The report notes that references to PRP and microneedling with exosomes, which appeared in previous promotional material, have since been removed.
Questions raised in Israel
The development has also attracted attention in Israel.
Israeli newspaper Calcalist reported that relevant ministries had not been informed beforehand about the Cyprus venture.
Hadassah responded that it had invested no money in the project, stating that financing comes from Cypriot investors and that its role is limited to professional and advisory support.
The central question, according to the report, remains who assumes medical responsibility in Cyprus and what protections are available to patients.
Investor's legal history
The article also refers to businessman Lambros Christofi, chairman of Hadassah Cyprus (MMC) and a figure associated with the planned Hadassah Health Park project in Lakatamia, valued at approximately €150 million.
According to the report:
- In 2010 he received a €100,000 administrative fine in connection with a stock-market announcement concerning an acquisition.
- In 2008 the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal relating to another regulatory fine.
- In 2010 the Supreme Court upheld a civil judgment involving a share-purchase dispute.
- In 2011 he faced criminal charges, including alleged fraud, conspiracy and forgery, in relation to a Romanian property case valued at around €6 million.
- The prosecution was suspended by the Attorney-General in 2012.
The report notes that the subsequent status of certain proceedings has not been independently confirmed.
