Some forensic reports on police cases have been outstanding since 2020, according to a letter from police headquarters to the Health Ministry. The delays have kept cases open for years, leaving relatives of people who died or were victims of violence waiting.
Justice Minister Costas Fytiris and Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides agreed in late September to bolster the State Pathology Service by buying services from the private sector, so that pathologists can respond to police needs.
The letter, sent recently, also said exhibits from post-mortem examinations that were due to go to other laboratories were not being cleaned and disinfected in time. Some samples were being lost because of how they were packaged, and police officers may have been exposed to contamination.
The problems appear to stem from a shortage of pathologists and a rise in the number of cases in which they are asked to give an opinion or carry out a forensic examination. The letter asked for these issues to be discussed at a meeting that was never arranged.
Criminal investigations into possible medical negligence face similar delays. Complaints are increasing, but investigations are slow to start because no medical officer is appointed to guide them. The police request a medical officer in writing, but nobody is put forward, either because doctors refuse or because nobody in the required specialty is available.
The ministers also agreed to increase the State Pathology Service’s staff and buy services from outside contractors to meet increased needs. The service’s protocol will be updated, modernised and sent to the police, setting out clearly which procedures must be followed and when a pathologist must attend or assist.
A police request to reopen mortuaries in other towns, to reduce transfers to Nicosia, was also granted. Limassol’s mortuary will reopen first, followed gradually by the others, to handle non-forensic cases. Forensic cases will still be dealt with in Nicosia.
