Staffing shortages reported at Famagusta general hospital

Yiannis Karousos, President of the Famagusta District Local Government Organization, has formally raised concerns regarding severe staffing shortages at the Famagusta General Hospital in Paralimni. In an official letter sent on September 11, 2026, to Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides and the State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY), Karousos requested a comprehensive plan and a specific timetable to address the facility's inability to provide essential medical coverage.

Key issues identified include the lack of a permanent pulmonologist, with coverage currently limited to only three or four monthly visits despite the admission of serious respiratory cases. Furthermore, neurological support is provided only once a week, despite the hospital treating stroke patients and individuals with serious nervous system diseases. Karousos also highlighted that waiting lists for neurological examinations have extended to six or seven months. Additionally, he noted the absence of a permanent ophthalmologist, a role that previously enjoyed daily coverage, which poses risks for patients requiring immediate specialized intervention.

These complaints follow reports of patient frustration and long waiting times at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department. Karousos has demanded urgent improvements to nursing staff levels and the reinforcement of basic medical specialties. The current status of the situation involves a formal request for government intervention and a timeline for corrective measures from the Ministry of Health and OKYPY.