Larnaca General ...
Larnaca General Hospital Improves Bed Capacity—But Administrative Gaps Still Hamper Patient Care
A recent parliamentary review and on-site inspection of Larnaca General Hospital revealed a mixed picture: on the one hand, the hospital has increased bed capacity and hired additional staff; on the other, it continues to grapple with administrative and procedural bottlenecks that impact service quality.
Audit Office investigators flagged several problematic practices. They found that the hospital still lacks a fully digitized medical records system, resulting in reliance on paper forms and manual processes. Some paperwork is stored improperly, and lost claims or incomplete filing has led the hospital to lose approximately 67,000 in compensation that specialist doctors were entitled to.
In one instance, contracted specialist doctors failed to submit compensation claims or neglected to update patient case files in a timely manner, meaning that both accountability and patient continuity can suffer. There is also no consistent mechanism to ensure proper claim filing across departments.
Patient advocates and the Federation of Patients’ Associations (OSAK) raised complaints about delays in accessing medicines via state-run pharmacies integrated in the healthcare system (OKYPY). Some chronically ill patients still face bureaucratic hurdles to obtain essential drugs, which they argue contradicts the goals of the universal health system (GESY).
Hospital leadership and OKYPY officials counter that substantive progress has been made, especially in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) unit, and that while increased staffing and beds raise costs, they also improve baseline care. Union and staff representatives acknowledge historic problems but claim that recent years have seen gradual improvement.
In parliament, observers criticized the lack of urgency: it has been six years since Cyprus launched its universal health system (GESY), and many of these administrative and logistical problems “should already have been resolved.”
The Larnaca case is emblematic of a deeper dilemma for Cyprus’ health system: quantity vs quality. On the one hand, increasing beds and staffing is necessary, without that foundation, system strain is inevitable. But on the other hand, systemic efficiency, compliance, accountability, and information flow are just as crucial. In fact, they often determine whether increased capacity actually benefits patients.
The lack of a fully implemented digital records system is especially glaring. In an era where health systems globally are moving toward interoperability, real-time patient data, and outcome tracking, continuing reliance on paper is not just old-fashioned, it’s expensive, error-prone, and undermines best practices.
The lost compensation and unfiled claims show how administrative inefficiency has concrete financial costs. More critically, such gaps erode trust. Patients may hesitate to rely fully on public healthcare if they see persistent bureaucratic slippage even in flagship hospitals.
The delays in drug access for chronic patients are deeply concerning. These are the ones who depend most on a reliable public system. The fact that such critical patients face friction suggests there remains a mismatch between the ideal of universal care and on-the-ground delivery. It’s not enough to extend coverage; access and timeliness must also improve.
Going forward, Cyprus’ health authorities should consider:
-Prioritize digital transformation. Full rollout of electronic medical records, claims systems, and patient dashboards should be a central goal, not optional.
-Enforce accountability mechanisms. Ensure doctors and staff are contractually obligated to submit claims and patient updates, with checks and audits.
-Streamline pharmaceutical access. Reduce bureaucratic choke points that delay drug issuance, especially for chronic disease patients.
-Monitor & adapt. Regular reviews of hospital performance metrics (wait times, error rates, lost claims) must inform ongoing reforms.
Larnaca’s improvements show intent and potential. But unless Cyprus pairs expansion with robust internal systems, the gains will be uneven and fragile
Market Cyprus - News Service
Our digital marketing platform publishes daily captivating news about Cyprus, covering diverse topics from cultural events and historical insights to modern developments and travel tips. Stay informed and engaged with our up-to-date, interesting content showcasing the beauty and vibrancy of Cyprus.