The family of a 72-year-old woman who died at Larnaca General Hospital has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the case, as well as urgent decisions to ensure adequate staffing of the hospital with sufficient medical and nursing personnel.
The incident has been reported to have occurred on the afternoon of Saturday 17 January 2026, with the patient passing away in the early hours of Sunday 18 January 2026. In a written statement, the spokesperson of the Health Organisation of Cyprus (OKYPY), Charalambos Charilaou, confirmed that the incident will be investigated and expressed sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health has stated that it expects OKYPY to take the necessary actions to investigate the complaint regarding the death of the 72-year-old, according to the Ministry’s spokesperson, Dimitris Konstantinou.
Konstantinou said that the Health Minister, Neophytos Charalambides, was informed of the complaint via the letter sent by the family. “As soon as the alleged incident came to his attention, he instructed that the letter be forwarded to OKYPY for an immediate investigation of the incident and the submission of a factual report,” he added.
When asked whether the Ministry of Health would take further action in relation to the case, Mr Konstantinou said: “We are waiting for OKYPY to take the necessary steps.” He also clarified that the next actions “will depend on the findings of OKYPY’s factual report.”
The incident was reported through a letter sent by the family of the 72-year-old to the Ministry of Health, OKYPY, and the Health Insurance Organisation (OAY).
In the letter, the family, described the hospitalisation and subsequent death of the 72-year-old, condemning “the unacceptable conditions prevailing at Larnaca General Hospital.” They demanded a full investigation of the complaint and immediate decisions to ensure the hospital is properly staffed with sufficient medical and nursing personnel.
The family also called for guarantees that no patient will be left without continuous and effective monitoring and demanded an end to practices “that undermine the work being done and turn public hospitals into spaces of neglect rather than care.”