Complaints about GHS Malpractices: Financial Burden and Patient Suffering

The Patient Rights Observatory of the Cyprus Federation of Patients Associations (OSAK) received 37 complaints last month regarding the General Health System (GHS).

The complaints concern malpractices by healthcare professionals and hospitals, such as charges for consumables covered by the GHS, false records of medical procedures, and misleading treatments.

In one case, a patient complained that they were asked to pay for consumables that were also reimbursed by the HIO. Another case involved a patient who discovered false records of medical procedures in their GHS account.

In addition, complaints were recorded about poor behavior of healthcare professionals, delays in service, and inadequate services, as reported in the case of a patient who underwent sedation without adequate care.

The president of OSAK, Charalambos Papadopoulos, stated that the complaints are taken seriously and will be brought to the attention of the HIO. He also pointed out that citizens are now checking electronic messages from the Organization, identifying instances of deception.

A mother complained about the lack of specialized protocols for children with chronic conditions, resulting in her child being transferred from hospital to hospital until a doctor was found to serve them.