The body remained in the morgue of the Paphos hospital for 1,040 days.

One of the bodies remained in the morgue of Paphos General Hospital for 1040 days, or almost three years. The inspection also revealed incomplete documentation, problems with refrigeration equipment maintenance, an ineffective alarm system, and a lack of a contingency plan in the event of another failure.

Irregularities at the Paphos morgue were reported starting in 2023. Complaints were raised about unpleasant odors, overcrowding, and poor sanitary conditions. The Audit Office found that the actions taken by the responsible institutions were insufficient.

Paphos Morgue Under Audit

The inspection was initiated following reports of problems with refrigeration equipment. In May 2026, morgue operations were temporarily suspended, and the ability to accept additional bodies was limited.

Representatives of the Audit Office conducted an unannounced visit to the hospital. However, due to ongoing disinfection, they were unable to enter the room where the bodies were stored.

The findings were therefore based on documentation, correspondence and interviews with staff from the Paphos General Hospital, the Ministry of Health, the National Health Service Organisation OKYPY and the Department of Electromechanical Services.

Almost three years in the hospital morgue

The most shocking finding is the case of a body that remained in the morgue for 1,040 days. The report does not publicly explain why the body was not buried or transferred for so long.

It is unknown whether they were awaiting identification, finding family, the conclusion of legal proceedings, or a decision from another institution. Therefore, without additional information, it is impossible to clearly determine the cause.

OKYPY explained that the morgue has both regular refrigeration and freezer rooms. According to the guidelines, a body can remain in the refrigeration room for up to 30 days. If the body is not collected or buried within that time, it must be transferred to the freezer room.

The report does not conclude that the body was kept in a standard cold storage facility for the entire 1,040 days. However, it does confirm that it remained in the morgue for a period well beyond normal practice.

Incomplete documentation and risk of error

Auditors also found serious deficiencies in the record-keeping. The documentation did not allow for quick and unambiguous identification of the location of a specific body in every case.

According to the auditors, this method of record-keeping may cause delays, hinder identification and increase the risk of errors when handing over the body to the family or funeral home.

The irregularities concern not only the technical condition of the premises. They also encompass basic procedures that should ensure proper identification and full control over the receipt and release of corpses.

Only an unpleasant smell warned of the failure

One of the most serious technical problems was the lack of an effective system for informing about temperature increases or failures of refrigeration equipment.

According to the findings, the irregularities were only noticed when an unpleasant odor appeared in the hospital premises. This meant that staff did not receive sufficient warning to protect bodies and limit the effects of the malfunction.

The auditors also failed to confirm that the equipment was serviced at the frequency specified in the contract. Furthermore, there was no emergency plan in place, nor was there a designated location to which bodies could be immediately transported in the event of a morgue shutdown.

Institutions passed responsibility to each other

The report highlights the unclear division of responsibilities between OKYPY, the Ministry of Health and the Department of Electromechanical Services.

OKYPY indicated that the electromechanical services were responsible for coordinating equipment maintenance. However, auditors concluded that the state organization managing the hospital had long failed to assume sufficient responsibility for the proper operation of the morgue.

The problem was exacerbated by staff shortages. As a result, there was no single institution with clear responsibility for documentation, equipment maintenance, emergency response, and work organization across the entire facility.

The Audit Office demands specific changes

The most important recommendations included the introduction of automatic temperature monitoring and an alarm immediately notifying in the event of a failure.

The hospital should also have a backup location where bodies can be safely transferred in the event of technical problems. It's also necessary to organize records and ensure adequate staffing.

The Audit Office also recommended the conclusion of a clear agreement between the Ministry of Health and OKYPY. This document will define who is responsible for the morgue's ongoing operations, equipment maintenance, recordkeeping, and emergency response.

The case of the body being stored for 1,040 days is the most striking part of the report. However, the audit reveals that a much more serious problem was the entire system, which for several years lacked effective oversight, complete documentation, and clear accountability.

Sources: Audit Office of the Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus Mail, Phileleftheros