Third Plasmapheresis Report in Larnaca. Police Conduct New Investigation

The Ministry of Health has filed a third notification regarding a plasmapheresis centre in Larnaca. The decision was made following an on-site inspection on Friday. Previous reports regarding the same facility date back to 2022 and 2023.

The Larnaca Police Department is investigating the case. Officers are investigating whether the plasmapheresis equipment was used legally, and whether the procedures were performed under appropriate conditions and by qualified personnel. No charges have been filed at this stage.

Plasmapheresis in Larnaca under scrutiny again

The Ministry of Health said it received new information regarding the Larnaca medical center on Thursday. Officials conducted an on-site inspection the following day.

After completing the investigation, the ministry referred the matter to the police and filed another complaint. Ministry of Health representative Dimitris Konstantinou confirmed that the inspection examined the conditions under which medical procedures were performed.

The ministry did not disclose the detailed results of the visit. Officials explained that publishing them could affect the ongoing investigation.

This is the third notification regarding this facility.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that two previous notifications regarding the same facility were submitted in 2022 and 2023.

One of these cases involved a patient who suffered serious complications following surgery. She was admitted to the intensive care unit at the American Medical Center with massive thrombosis.

Marinos Sotiriou, a cardiac surgeon and co-founder of the American Medical Center, spoke publicly about the case. According to him, the patient underwent plasmapheresis at a facility that was not properly licensed to perform such procedures.

However, an earlier police investigation did not yield sufficient evidence to establish that a crime had been committed. The files were transferred to the Legal Service of the Republic of Cyprus, which also found that the evidence did not provide grounds for criminal proceedings.

The new notice means the matter will be re-investigated. However, it does not determine the liability of the facility or its employees.

Police checked two centers in Larnaca

The Department of Medical Services sent a letter to the police regarding two centers in Larnaca. According to information provided by Cyprus Mail During the search, a plasmapheresis device was found in one of them. The other did not have such a machine.

Other local reports mentioned devices linked to the two centers, so the exact scope of the findings should be clarified by the ongoing investigation.

The police will primarily verify whether the device was used in accordance with applicable regulations. The investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the Department of Medical Services.

It has not been confirmed whether the inspected facility is still accepting patients and performing procedures. The Ministry of Health explained that it cannot close a facility that it has not previously licensed. Therefore, any potential disruption of its operations remains a matter for the police and other relevant authorities.

The Ministry may inspect the cabinet upon receipt of information

The Ministry of Health conducts inspections in, among others, licensed hospitals, clinical laboratories, assisted reproductive facilities and facilities dealing with tissues and cells.

They can also inspect a doctor's office if they receive a report indicating that procedures are not being performed to the required standards. This was the basis for the recent inspection in Larnaca.

The problem, however, is that the authority of individual departments does not always cover the entire activity of the facility being inspected. The Ministry itself admitted that it can only order the closure of a facility to which it has previously granted a license.

If the place operates on a different basis or does not have the appropriate permit, the intervention of the police or another authority is necessary.

Plasmapheresis is not a wellness treatment

Plasmapheresis involves separating plasma from other blood components. The selected components are then returned to the patient along with a replacement fluid.

The procedure is used to treat specific conditions. However, it should only be performed when there are confirmed medical indications. Appropriately trained personnel, a properly equipped facility, and the ability to respond immediately to complications are also essential.

Doctors emphasize that plasmapheresis should not be presented as a universal way to cleanse the body, improve well-being or treat many unrelated health problems.

Before giving consent, the patient should know why the procedure has been recommended, what evidence confirms its effectiveness in their case, and what complications may occur.

The investigation has only just begun

The third complaint is the latest development in a case that has been ongoing for several years. This time, the investigation is also based on new information and findings from an inspection conducted directly at the facility.

Police did not disclose how long the investigation would take or when a decision would be made on how to proceed with the case. They also did not provide the name of the facility being inspected.

Until the investigation is concluded, it is impossible to determine whether a violation of the law occurred. However, the sheer number of reports and the authorities' return to the case demonstrate why the Patient Rights Ombudsman is calling for more efficient cooperation between institutions overseeing medical services.

Sources: Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus Police, Cyprus Mail, SigmaLive.