Newsroom
Refrigeration units at the morgue of Paphos General Hospital have reportedly been out of operation for several days, creating major difficulties in preserving bodies and delaying burial arrangements for grieving families.
In a written statement, Acting Mayor of Paphos Angelos Onisiforou said the situation has also placed funeral homes under pressure as they struggle to complete burial procedures on time. He described conditions at the facility as degrading, referring to unpleasant odors and signs of neglect within the morgue area.
Onisiforou also pointed to the continuing absence of a medical examiner in the Paphos district. Because of this, bodies must be transported to Nicosia for autopsies before being returned to Paphos, a process he described as costly, time-consuming, and emotionally exhausting for relatives.
According to the acting mayor, the repeated transfers increase expenses for both families and the state due to transportation and operational costs. He added that Paphos previously had its own medical examiner and said the system functioned more efficiently at that time.
Recent complaints, he said, refer to poor maintenance, unsuitable storage conditions, and limited operation of the morgue facility.
He called for immediate repairs to the refrigeration units, the appointment of a permanent medical examiner for Paphos, proper staffing of the morgue, and improved sanitary management of the site. He also urged authorities to stop transferring bodies between cities.
Concluding his statement, Onisiforou said Paphos should not be treated as a second-tier district and stressed that dignity and respect must continue after death.
