The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) has attributed the failure to transfer a patient abroad for a potential lung transplant to the objective impossibility of securing suitable air transport within an exceptionally limited timeframe, following intense public debate and media reports on the case.
In a detailed statement, the HIO acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the distress experienced by the patient and their family. It clarified, however, that it does not take medical decisions regarding whether a patient should be sent abroad. That responsibility lies exclusively with the competent medical authorities.
The Organisation’s role, it said, is limited to the administrative and operational management of patient transfers abroad, based on a standardised and institutionalised procedure applied to all cases.
Timeline of the incident
According to the HIO, since assuming responsibility for overseas patient transfers on 2 October 2025, it has handled 198 cases for treatment abroad. Of these, 27 were carried out via air ambulance, including nine life-threatening situations.
Regarding the specific case:
Shortly after 23:00 on 2 February, the HIO was informed by a hospital abroad that a donor lung had become available. The Organisation was asked to arrange the transfer of the patient to the hospital by 03:00 on 3 February 2026 so that the patient could be evaluated and a decision taken on whether to proceed with the transplant.
Within minutes, all prescribed procedures were activated. The HIO contacted all five collaborating air ambulance companies and simultaneously checked the availability of commercial flights from Larnaca and Paphos airports to the destination, in case the patient was fit to travel on a commercial service.
All collaborating air transport providers are based abroad and are the same companies previously used by the Ministry of Health.
Despite immediate and repeated efforts, none of the air ambulance providers was able to carry out the transfer within the required three-hour timeframe. At the same time, no commercial flight was available that could meet the deadline.
The HIO said it maintained continuous communication with the foreign hospital in an effort to explore alternatives or secure an extension. This was not possible due to objective constraints relating to the hospital where the donor was located.
Strict international time limits
The Organisation stressed that in potential transplant cases, timeframes are determined by strict international clinical and operational protocols that cannot be modified administratively.
After it became clear that the transfer could not take place within the required timeframe, the HIO said it contacted the patient that same evening to explain the actions taken and the outcome.
It rejected suggestions of inaction or negligence, stating that it reacted immediately and utilised all available means, as had been done in the past by the Ministry of Health. The failure to carry out the transfer, it said, was due solely to the objective lack of an available aircraft within the extremely tight time window.
Reviewing procedures
The HIO said it is now assessing, in cooperation with relevant authorities, options to strengthen the availability of transport for patients travelling abroad. These include ensuring access to conventional flights where the patient’s condition allows, as well as exploring the possibility of securing specialised air transport with continuous presence in Cyprus.
The protection of human life and the best interests of patients remain the Organisation’s non-negotiable priority, it concluded, adding that it remains committed to improving procedures and available resources for managing such highly demanding cases.