State Health Services Organization seeks legislative reform for morgue management

The State Health Services Organization (OKYPY) of Cyprus has formally requested a legislative amendment to address the long-term storage of human remains in hospital morgues. On September 17, 2026, organization spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou stated that current legal constraints prevent the disposal of bodies without an explicit order from a coroner. While OKYPY is responsible for the preservation of remains, it lacks the legal authority to proceed with burials independently.

The issue primarily concerns individuals who have no known next of kin, including foreign nationals and unidentified persons. According to Charilaou, these remains often linger in morgues for months or even years due to the lack of clear procedural deadlines for cases where identification is incomplete or relatives cannot be located. The organization is now advocating for a new law that would establish a specific timeframe after which a burial permit could be issued by authorities automatically.

The proposed change is intended to streamline the burial process for unclaimed remains and clear significant backlog within hospital mortuary facilities. The organization maintains that establishing a clear legal timeline is necessary to resolve the current impasse, as they are currently limited to custodial duties under existing mandates.