The Ministry of Health and the Cyprus Medical Association (PIS) are conducting separate examinations relating to services offered by Hadassah Medical Centre Limassol, following issues raised in recent reporting.
According to information reported by Politis, the Ministry is assessing whether services provided by the centre comply with Cyprus legislation, while the PIS is examining the presentation of a doctor under a specialty that is not recognised in Cyprus. Hadassah has rejected allegations of irregularities and maintains it operates with all required licences.
Ministry reviewing services and remote consultations
Two parallel examinations are underway concerning the operation of Hadassah Medical Centre in Limassol.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health Dr Elisavet Constantinou confirmed to the Cyprus News Agency that the Ministry is investigating reports relating to medical opinions provided through teleconferencing. She said Hadassah recently applied for a licence for an imaging centre and that, following multiple inspections by officials, the licence was granted approximately one month ago.
The centre's listed services include diagnostic testing, preventive medicine, consultancy services, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and access to specialised second medical opinions from doctors at Hadassah hospitals in Jerusalem.
The Ministry's review is examining the nature of the remote medical communication and whether it involves exclusively second opinions or any participation in medical procedures. No such involvement has been confirmed.
According to Dr Constantinou, officials are assessing the relevant legal provisions to determine whether any service offered by the centre breaches the existing regulatory framework. Depending on the findings, the Cyprus Medical Council and the Cyprus Medical Association could become involved.
Cooperation with Israeli authorities
According to information obtained by Politis, the Ministry is expected to seek cooperation from the Israeli Ministry of Health as part of its examination of services linking the Limassol centre with doctors based in Jerusalem.
No specific request or response from the Israeli side has been made public.
Medical Association examines specialty designation
Separately, a source within the Cyprus Medical Association (PIS) told Politis that the association has been aware for nearly two weeks of an issue concerning a doctor presented on the Hadassah website under the designation "Preventive, Regenerative Medicine and Longevity".
According to the source, this designation does not correspond to a recognised medical specialty in Cyprus and is currently under review by the association.
Hadassah rejects claims of irregularities
In a detailed statement issued on Wednesday, Hadassah Medical Centre rejected what it described as inaccurate and misleading impressions created by the report.
The centre said it is unaware of any specific pending complaint or official finding questioning the legality of its operations and requested notification of any new complaints so it can respond directly.
Regarding staffing, Hadassah said it had provided a list of 15 doctors and two clinical dietitians before publication of the report. It added that it employs five licensed nurses and seven physiotherapy and exercise professionals, with physiotherapists participating in the General Healthcare System (GeSY).
The centre also said discussions are ongoing with a further 15 doctors, although required approvals have not yet been completed.
Hadassah acknowledged that its website had not been updated promptly and stated that it is updating information relating to collaborators and the responsible radiologist. It added that doctors work according to scheduled appointments and are not all present at the facility every day.
Process for second opinions
According to Hadassah, patients are first examined in Limassol by a doctor licensed in Cyprus.
If a second opinion is requested, the Cyprus-based physician sends the patient's medical records and specific questions to a specialist in Jerusalem. The response is then returned to the local doctor, who evaluates the information and communicates it to the patient.
The centre said this process does not constitute remote direction of medical procedures.
Hadassah further stated that it has assisted doctors in both public and private hospitals upon request, including in emergency cases, some of which resulted in the transfer of patients to Israel.
Licensing and medical equipment
Hadassah maintains that it holds all licences required for its current operation as a medical and radiodiagnostic centre and argues that no separate general licence is required for its existing activities.
The centre said its planned conversion into a day-care treatment unit is a separate process. It stated that amended plans received preliminary approval and were submitted to the planning authority on 7 October under application number 180049-EA15, noting that the application does not constitute final approval.
The administration also denied that plasmapheresis had been performed on any patient at the centre.
According to the statement, a plasmapheresis system and ozone therapy unit were declared to the Ministry on 26 August, following a meeting on 4 August concerning planned day-care services. The equipment was subsequently moved to company offices in Nicosia and was inspected by officials on 29 September, according to a Ministry letter dated 16 October, which outlined conditions for any future use.
