Retired but still on payroll as doctor gets paid for 10 months after retiring

A retired public sector doctor continued receiving salary and benefits for nearly a year after leaving his post, collecting a total of €65,000 in state funds while working for a private clinic, a parliamentary committee revealed Tuesday.

Chairman of the parliamentary health committee, Efthimios Diplaros, disclosed that due to an administrative failure by the State Health Services Organization (SHSO), the doctor’s retirement was never officially recorded, allowing payments to continue uninterrupted from April 2024 to February 2025.

The mistake came to light only after Diplaros flagged the issue, prompting an investigation by the Ombudsman, who confirmed the overpayment. SHSO has since requested the doctor return the funds, but he has refused to comply.

Lawmakers expressed outrage over the incident, questioning how such an oversight could go unnoticed for months. The case has sparked broader concerns over payroll management and accountability in the public health system, with officials now exploring legal options to recover the lost funds.

“This is not just a simple clerical error. It raises serious questions about financial oversight in our public institutions,” Diplaros said.

The matter remains under review, with further discussions expected in the coming weeks.