A medical centre in Larnaca that has operated without a licence since 2022 has been reported to the police for a third time, exposing what critics describe as a regulatory gap that allows unlicensed facilities to continue operating while criminal investigations run their course.
While the Ministry of Health can impose sanctions, restrictions or closure orders on licensed private hospitals and day-care centres that breach their operating conditions, the same powers do not apply to facilities that were never licensed in the first place.
Instead, cases involving unlicensed centres must be referred to the police and subsequently to the Legal Service, which determines whether sufficient evidence exists for criminal prosecution.
Different rules for licensed and unlicensed facilities
A licensed healthcare facility that exceeds the scope of its permit or fails to comply with regulations can face immediate administrative action, including fines, operational restrictions or closure.
For unlicensed facilities, however, authorities have no equivalent mechanism for direct intervention. The process relies on police investigations and legal review, often creating lengthy delays before any action can be taken.
The result is a situation in which a facility that secured a licence is subject to immediate oversight, while one that never obtained authorisation may continue operating pending the outcome of legal procedures.
Three complaints in four years
The centre first came to the attention of authorities in 2022 following reports in British media concerning treatments offered on the premises. Inspections were carried out by Ministry of Health officials and the first complaint was filed with police.
A second complaint followed in 2023 after the facility had changed its name. The case involved a patient who allegedly suffered serious complications following treatment.
Cardiothoracic surgeon and American Medical Center co-founder Marinos Sotiriou told Politis at the time that a patient had been transferred from the centre and required intensive care treatment following plasmapheresis.
Both cases were investigated by police and referred to the Legal Service, but neither resulted in a prosecution due to insufficient evidence.
Despite the investigations, the centre continued operating and promoting plasmapheresis treatments for patients with Long COVID, although the procedure is not considered an established treatment for the condition.
New inspection and third complaint
New information uncovered during a Politis investigation was presented to the Ministry of Health last week, prompting a surprise inspection the following day.
Speaking on Politis Radio, Health Ministry spokesperson Dimitris Constantinou confirmed that the centre does not hold a licence.
According to Constantinou, inspectors found that practices carried out at the facility were not appropriate and did not adequately safeguard patient health.
Plasmapheresis machines were discovered on the premises and, following the inspection, the Department of Medical Services submitted another complaint to police on 14 September.
The Larnaca CID is now investigating whether the operation of the equipment breaches existing legislation.
The centre has been asked to suspend the activities under investigation while inquiries continue. However, that request does not amount to a suspension of the facility's overall operation.
Legally approved parts, but no overall oversight
Patient Ombudsman Marios Charalambides argues that the case highlights broader weaknesses in the current regulatory framework.
According to Charalambides, different authorities oversee premises, healthcare professionals, equipment and medicines separately, without necessarily evaluating the overall service received by patients.
A machine may be approved, a practitioner properly registered and medication legally supplied. That does not automatically mean a treatment is medically appropriate, safe or permitted.
"The legality of equipment does not legitimise every use of it and the legality of a healthcare provider does not legitimise every service it offers," he said.
He also called for greater coordination between regulators and more effective powers of intervention when patient safety concerns arise.
Ministry launches review
Following the third complaint, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides instructed officials to map facilities providing higher-risk invasive treatments, particularly those marketed as anti-ageing, detoxification, wellness or wellbeing services.
The review will identify who is providing such treatments, where they are operating, under what professional capacity and what systems are in place to manage complications.
Officials have also been tasked with preparing a comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory framework governing such services.
The exercise is due to be completed within 15 days.
"Plasmapheresis is a recognised medical treatment which, for specific indications, can be extremely important and even life-saving," the minister said. "It is not, however, a simple wellness procedure."
The development means it took three complaints concerning the same centre before authorities moved to establish how many similar facilities may be operating and what services they are offering.
