Paphos general hospital mortuary suspends operations due to technical fault

On May 22, 2026, the State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY) announced the temporary closure of the Paphos General Hospital mortuary due to a malfunction in its refrigeration units. The facility is expected to remain closed until June 3, 2026, or until repairs are completed. For bodies already at the facility, the hospital has taken measures to ensure they remain in appropriate storage conditions. For new cases, families are requested to arrange transport to a licensed funeral home, though the hospital will assist those unable to make such arrangements. While official sources claim procedures are functioning normally and post-mortems are being conducted at Nicosia General Hospital, local officials and funeral directors have reported serious issues, including strong odors and mismanagement of remains. Specifically, funeral director Neofytos Christodoulidis and Paphos Mayor Angelos Onisiforou described alarming conditions, including a case where a body was incorrectly labeled. While OKYPY maintains that centralized post-mortems in Nicosia are a standard best practice, concerns regarding the dignity and preservation of remains have been raised by local stakeholders.