Cyprus healthcare: 534 patient complaints recorded in four months

Patient Rights Officers in Cyprus recorded 534 complaints and requests over a four-month period from May 1 to August 31, 2026. The grievances include 293 written submissions and 241 oral reports, averaging more than 130 cases per month.

Quality of care was the most frequent written complaint, accounting for 98 reports (33%). Patient Ombudsman Marios Charalambidis noted that this category encompasses a broad spectrum of issues, including management, professionalism, and continuity of care, rather than being limited strictly to medical errors.

Other significant concerns involve time management and patient hardship, with 88 reports regarding respect for the patient's time and 80 regarding the avoidance of unnecessary pain and inconvenience. Emergency Departments (A&E) are a particular focal point, accounting for approximately 20% of all written complaints.