Forensic services are facing renewed scrutiny following allegations of severe staffing shortages, closed mortuaries and inadequate security after a body went missing from a mortuary.
Forensic pathologist Marios Matsakis criticised the Ministry of Health during an appearance on Sigma TV’s Protoselido programme, arguing that longstanding problems have not been adequately addressed.
He said serious incidents trigger public concern, but the underlying issues are eventually forgotten without meaningful action.
Only Nicosia mortuary operating, Matsakis claims
Matsakis alleged that only one person in Cyprus currently performs autopsies and that the Nicosia mortuary is the only facility in operation.
He said the mortuaries in Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca had closed, despite millions of euros reportedly being spent on their renovation and upgrading in previous years.
According to Matsakis, bodies requiring autopsies must now be transported to Nicosia, forcing police officers and relatives to travel from other districts.
He warned that this arrangement increases the risk of mistakes.
Referring to the missing-body case, Matsakis suggested that the error was linked to the transfer of the body from another district to Nicosia and the placement of an incorrect label on the mortuary refrigerator.
He questioned why public money had been spent upgrading facilities that were subsequently left unused.
“If it is decided that there will only be the Nicosia mortuary, those responsible must first be asked why they renovated the other mortuaries and spent millions of taxpayers’ money,” he said.
He also called for clear procedures to prevent errors and ensure the proper operation of forensic services.
Histopathologist working in London causes delays, he says
Matsakis also highlighted delays in the preparation of forensic reports, attributing the problem largely to the absence of a specialist histopathologist in Cyprus to examine samples from autopsies.
He said the relevant examinations are carried out by a histopathologist based in London who visits Cyprus periodically to handle cases before returning to his job in the UK.
Matsakis added that when the specialist is required to appear in court, travel and accommodation expenses in Cyprus must be covered.
According to him, the situation arose after the previous specialist responsible for these examinations in Cyprus left following a disagreement with the Ministry of Health.
Allegations of inadequate mortuary security
Matsakis also raised concerns about security at mortuary facilities, saying he had received complaints from families about uncontrolled access to restricted areas.
He alleged that individuals had entered the mortuary at Nicosia General Hospital and moved through areas where bodies are stored without being detected. He said similar complaints had been made about the Paphos mortuary.
He stressed that security is particularly important because some bodies are connected to cases before the courts, making it essential to prevent any interference.
Matsakis also described the issue as one of ethics and professional conduct.
He said the refrigerator at the Nicosia mortuary has 28 positions and warned about the potential consequences of someone deliberately changing identification labels on bodies.
Matsakis says problems have persisted for decades
Matsakis said he had been raising concerns about forensic services for at least 30 years, arguing that the situation remained largely unchanged.
“I have been talking about this issue for at least three decades. And today, we are in the same situation,” he said.
Although he acknowledged that some progress had been made, he argued that the country still fell short of the standards expected of a European state.
“We are not at the level we should be as a European country. We are not at that level. It is sad because we can do it,” he concluded.
The allegations renew questions about staffing, the operation of mortuary facilities, security procedures and the handling of bodies requiring forensic examination.
Also read: Funeral director alleges chaos in morgues, bodies missing organs
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