Nicosia clinic loses GHS status after legionella licence suspension
A private Nicosia clinic can no longer treat patients under the General Health System after its operating licence was suspended over legionella bacteria.
The Health Insurance Organisation has pulled a private Nicosia clinic out of the General Health System, following the suspension of its operating licence over the detection of legionella bacteria, as reported by Cyprus Mail. While the suspension stands, the clinic cannot take in new GHS patients for inpatient care or file claims for treatment given during that period.
The HIO said it moved as soon as the Registrar of Private Hospitals at the Health Ministry formally notified it, with the contract halted on the same day. The measure is tied to the licence order and stays in place for as long as that order does.
Those already staying at the facility are being looked after under the law and according to directions from the competent authority, the organisation added. Reinstating the contract would require the clinic to submit official paperwork once the licence suspension is lifted.
What it means for residents
For anyone in Nicosia who uses the national health scheme, this removes one more option for planned or emergency inpatient care, at least until the licence question is settled. The wider concern is water safety in private health facilities, since a newborn treated at this clinic fell seriously ill with Legionnaires' disease and remains at Makarios Hospital.
- Check your options. If you were booked into this clinic through the GHS, confirm with your doctor where you will be treated instead.
- Watch for updates. Results of water tests at the clinic and at the family's home are expected on Thursday and may clarify the source.
- Know who decides. Only the Registrar of Private Hospitals can issue, lift or cancel licence suspensions, so the clinic's return to the system depends on that office.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
