Findings by the Audit Office have highlighted longstanding weaknesses in the management, supervision, staffing and maintenance of the morgue at Paphos General Hospital.
The report found that in one case, a body remained in a refrigeration unit for 1,040 days, despite an indicated storage period of around 30 days.
The Audit Office said bodies had been kept in refrigeration units for prolonged periods and that international standards for the storage of bodies were not being applied at the hospital.
It warned that this could affect the condition of bodies and their dignified treatment, while also creating a risk of incorrect identification.
Complaints dating back to 2023
The report said complaints about decomposition odours, overcrowding of bodies and a lack of cleaning had been recorded since 2023, without corrective measures being taken.
The findings also identified weaknesses in the mechanisms used to control and track bodies, creating a risk that their storage locations could be incorrectly recorded and that they could be difficult to locate when needed.
The Audit Office stressed that the conditions raised not only issues concerning respect for the deceased and their families, but also hygiene, workplace safety and public health concerns.
Refrigeration failure exposed wider problems
The Audit Office conducted a surprise inspection in May 2026 following reports that the morgue’s refrigeration system had suffered a serious malfunction and that the State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY) had temporarily suspended the morgue’s operation.
Physical access to the facilities was not possible during the inspection because disinfection work was underway. The findings were instead based on interviews with staff from Paphos General Hospital, the Ministry of Health, OKYPY and the Electromechanical Services Department, as well as correspondence obtained during the inspection.
The Audit Office also found that OKYPY management was unaware that responsibility for the operation of morgues fell under the organisation.
It further identified shortcomings in the monitoring and maintenance of critical equipment. The Audit Office said it could not confirm that refrigeration equipment had been serviced at the frequency required under the contract.
The Electromechanical Services Department, as the contracting authority, was also found not to have carried out the necessary checks on the equipment, the contractor’s maintenance work or the maintenance register.
No alarm system or emergency plan
The inspection found that there was no alarm system to provide notification in the event of a malfunction.
As a result, the problem was detected through the strong odour that spread in the hospital premises.
The report also found no business continuity plan setting out the actions required, responsible personnel and alternative facilities in the event of refrigeration equipment failure.
In addition, staffing for the person responsible for the operation of the morgue was considered inadequate.
Audit Office recommendations
The Audit Office recommended that bodies be stored in accordance with international standards and that an automatic temperature monitoring system be properly maintained, with immediate alerts in the event of a malfunction or temperatures moving outside permitted limits.
It also called for a central register covering breakdowns, maintenance and repairs of critical equipment.
A formally approved written emergency plan should also be prepared, setting out the necessary actions, responsibilities and alternative storage facilities if the morgue cannot operate.
The Audit Office further called for the completion of an agreement between the Ministry of Health and OKYPY governing the use of the facilities, in order to clearly define responsibilities for the operation and management of morgues.
OKYPY clarifications
OKYPY said in its response, included in the report, that on the day of the malfunction, the morgue was being used only for storing bodies in refrigeration and freezer units.
Following the malfunction, only the freezer continued to operate, while autopsies had already been suspended.
OKYPY also noted that around 30 days is the recommended period for storing a body in a refrigeration unit. If a longer storage period is expected, the body should be transferred to a freezer.
The organisation said the coordinator for the morgue equipment maintenance contract is an officer of the Electromechanical Services Department of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
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