Patient Ombudsman report reveals systemic gaps in patient transfers

On September 29, 2026, the Office of the Patient Ombudsman in Cyprus, led by Marios Charalambidis, released a critical report titled "The Patient in the Middle, Between Medical Centres." The report investigates systemic failures in the referral and transfer processes within the General Healthcare System (GeSY), affecting both public and private providers. Data from the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) indicates that approximately 380 hospitalizations per month involve patients being transferred between facilities.

The investigation mapped 23 typical referral scenarios and found that in 12 of them, the current legal and procedural framework permits the violation of patient rights. Another six scenarios depend on the correct execution of a single step, while only five are fully compliant with the law. The core issue is a lack of clarity regarding when a medical institution's responsibility ends and another's begins during a transfer, often leaving patients in a "bureaucratic void" while providers disagree on clinical ownership.

Ombudsman Marios Charalambidis emphasized that a simple phone call or a suggestion for a patient to go elsewhere does not constitute a formal, responsible referral. The report highlights that patients should not bear the consequences of inter-provider disputes, calling for improved coordination to ensure the continuity of care as required by existing legislation.