A State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) doctor has been dismissed following allegations of repeatedly soliciting undocumented payments from a patient’s relatives, Health Minister Michalis Damianos confirmed today.
The case has been referred to the Attorney General’s office for investigation after the doctor allegedly demanded cash payments without receipts from relatives of a patient who underwent surgery in Athens.
According to messages made public, the doctor suggested the family should “appreciate” his services.
“Shameful. Doctors in Cyprus, both in public and private sectors, are very well paid”, Health Minister Damianos told philenews, confirming that complaints were filed with both the Ministry and SHSO.
SHSO spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou announced in a written statement that following legal consultation, the organisation’s Disciplinary and Administrative Boards decided to terminate the doctor’s services effective January 27, 2025.
The case has been forwarded to the Deputy Attorney General for potential criminal investigation.
The incident came to light through state broadcaster CyBC. According to the complaints, the doctor travelled to Athens for the patient’s surgery, where he allegedly made multiple requests for cash payments from the relatives.
In written messages that have been published, the doctor reportedly acknowledged he could not issue receipts as it would be illegal for him as a public sector doctor to accept payments.
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