By the end of 2024, the staff of the Public Health Organisation (OKYpY) will move into a new wing of the Larnaca General Hospital. This will finally allow the local municipality to start modernising the historic building to meet its needs.
This was announced by Larnaca mayor Andreas Viras on Monday 16 September.
Viras said he had been informed by the director general of the Cyprus Ministry of Health, Christine Yannaki. She promised that by the end of this year at the latest, all medical services for the people of the coastal town will be suspended at the old hospital. And the municipality will be authorised to start the long-awaited renovation.
Viras mentioned that the tendering process is in full swing. The mayor's office will soon summarise the results and announce the winner, who will be able to start modernising the building as early as March-April 2025. It is planned that the renovated facility will be operational within 24 months of the start of work. More than €7 million has been allocated from the state budget for the implementation of the project.
It should be remembered that the first buildings of the old hospital were constructed in 1900.
In 1933-1934, thanks to the donations of Evanthia Pieridou, two new wings were added to the medical centre. The great philanthropist, who died in 1934, donated a huge amount of money and her entire estate to Larnaca. She bequeathed her famous seaside villa to the city on the condition that the proceeds from its rental be used for the needs of Larnaca Hospital.
Over the years, various mayors of Larnaca have tried to negotiate with the state to give the old hospital building to the town hall. However, no one wanted to bear the cost of moving the few medical services that were located on the ground floor of the hospital. In addition, the will stipulated that the building should only be used as a hospital. In the end, the problem was solved. Yes, and the heirs of the Pieridis family agreed that there should be a town hall.
In April 2022, Larnaca Municipality signed a contract with the Ministry of Interior for the lease of the historic building of the old hospital. According to the contract, the municipality was granted the use of two plots of land as well as the historic building. For a long time, the hospital housed employees of the National Health Service (OKYpY). They will finally leave in the spring of 2023.
It should be noted that the restoration of the Old Larnaca Hospital will be carried out according to a project designed by the architectural firm Dimitris Michael & Associates. According to the press release, the plan envisages a major overhaul of the building with the restoration of the external masonry, frames and ceilings to their original authentic appearance, as well as the renovation of all interior spaces. In addition, a modern car park will be created and the open space around the building will be completely reconstructed. In particular, the area will be landscaped, modern lighting will be installed, and recreational areas and a fountain will be created.