A private hospital in Nicosia has been suspended from Cyprus’ General Healthcare System (GHS) after Legionella bacteria were detected at the facility and authorities suspended its operating licence.
The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO), which administers GHS, said it suspended its contract with the hospital on the same day it received official notification from the Health Ministry’s Registrar of Private Hospitals.
The suspension took effect from the date and time the relevant order was issued and will remain in force for as long as the hospital’s operating licence remains suspended.
Hospital cannot admit new GHS patients
The HIO said the suspension process was activated in accordance with the hospital’s contract and the General Healthcare System Law.
While the suspension remains in force, the hospital cannot operate as a contracted provider of inpatient healthcare services under GHS.
It is therefore prohibited from admitting new patients through the system or submitting claims for reimbursement for services covered by the suspension period.
The organisation said it had informed the affected healthcare provider of the decision and its consequences for the delivery of services under GHS.
Arrangements for existing patients
The management of patients already admitted to the hospital will be handled in accordance with the relevant legislation and instructions from the competent authority, the Health Ministry’s Registrar of Private Hospitals.
The HIO clarified that responsibility for issuing, lifting or cancelling orders concerning the operating licences of private hospitals rests with the Registrar.
If the suspension order is lifted or cancelled, the hospital must immediately notify the HIO and provide official documentation. The organisation will then consider whether to lift the suspension of its Gesy contract.
HIO monitoring developments
The HIO said it was closely monitoring the situation and taking the steps required within its legal and contractual responsibilities.
The announcement did not provide further details about the Legionella detection, including the number of people potentially affected or whether any patients had developed Legionnaires’ disease.
Also read: What is legionnaires’ disease and how does it spread?
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