Ultimately, there is one alleged medical center in the Larnaca district that is under scrutiny by members of the Larnaca Criminal Investigation Department, following the discovery of hemodialysis machines. Police Spokesperson Byron Vyronos clarified this on the Alpha News program, explaining that inspections were conducted at two centers, and that at one of them, nothing improper was found “that would prompt the Medical Services to file a complaint.”
“An examination and inspection were carried out at two centers, but this concerns only one of them. The Ministry of Health inspectors did not find any machines—only at one of them.”
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When asked whether the police investigation is limited to locating machines or whether it also includes licensing and, more broadly, the operation of a facility, Mr. Vyronos replied that “The police do not replace other competent authorities that have the power to inspect, investigate, grant licenses, suspend licenses, or issue orders.”
“The police investigate criminal offenses. For matters arising from the Law on Private Hospitals, the competent authority is the Ministry of Health, not the police. The police have no authority to conduct inspections or investigations into possible violations of the law. Nor do they have the expertise. Can a police officer determine whether a machine is a blood pressure monitor, a electrocardiogram machine, or anything else? There are specialists who must inspect these devices.”
The Police Spokesperson noted that the role of the police is to carry out the necessary criminal investigative work to bring a case before the courts.
“According to the law, the police are responsible for conducting interrogations in most cases. They will summon him to give a statement, interrogate him, and the police will handle the case. The officers will go there.”
Mr. Vyronos noted that investigations by the authorities are being conducted there and, where necessary, with the assistance of experts, while the submission of the relevant files to the Legal Service for review and guidance on how to proceed aims to supplement the investigative work with potential investigations by other specialists as well.
“The chain involves many factors and many agencies”
When asked why the case involving the suspect center in the Larnaca district was not brought to trial when it was investigated in 2023—with instructions to determine whether it was operating legally as a medical, Mr. Vyronos replied that nothing improper was found.
Investigations are now underway; on the same day, instructions were given to the Larnaca Criminal Investigation Department to begin
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