Paphos Central Hospital has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, thanks to massive investments in its infrastructure and medical equipment, totalling more than €21.8 million.
This was announced by the Cyprus Health Organisation (Okypy) on Wednesday 5 March.
In particular, the authority said that all the investments were aimed at making the hospital more competitive with private clinics and improving the quality of medical services.
Among the most important changes are the construction of a modern haemodialysis unit at a cost of €4.5 million and the expansion of the emergency department at a cost of €2.24 million. The hospital is also in the process of upgrading its short-stay unit, and the fourth floor will house specialist medical services, including a new children's ward and a pulmonology unit. A total of EUR 15.08 million has already been spent on infrastructure projects.
In addition to the construction work, considerable attention has been paid to the replacement of medical equipment. A 128-slice CT scanner worth €1.01 million, several ultrasound machines worth €535,000 and portable digital X-ray units worth €250,000 have been added to the hospital's arsenal. In addition, the hospital purchased new operating tables, monitors and anaesthesia machines, bringing the total investment in equipment to €6.77 million.
It is worth noting that despite the significant improvements, the hospital has recently been at the centre of public debate following criticism from the Mayor of Paphos, who claimed that the condition of the hospital was deteriorating. These allegations led to a widespread public outcry.
Okypy categorically denied the allegations and demanded that the mayor either provide the police with proof of his words or apologise publicly.
The health organisation stressed that such unfounded allegations undermine the reputation of the hospital and could have a negative impact on its operations. In addition, Okypy noted that the mortality rate at the facility is in line with other hospitals in Cyprus and beyond. Okypy urged residents to reflect on the motives behind the criticism and advised the mayor to seek clarification from the Ministry of Health or the Health Insurance Organisation (OAY) if he wanted official data on the hospital's performance.
The ongoing investment in Paphos Central Hospital confirms the commitment of the authorities and the medical community to provide a modern and efficient facility capable of offering the highest quality treatment and medical care to the residents of the region.