The investigation into a specific center in Larnaca where plasmapheresis treatments were allegedly being performed is still ongoing, with the police stating that it is expected to be completed and that the case will then becase will be referred to the Attorney General.
Yesterday, a delegation from the Pan-Cyprian Medical Association visited the Presidential Palace to meet with President Nicos Christodoulides; on the agenda, among other topics, the issue of controversial alternative therapies and substandard medical centers, which appear to be proliferating.
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Speaking about the issue on the Alpha News program, the former Chair of the PIS Ethics Committee, Dr. Vassos Oikonomou, said that, unfortunately, there are legislative loopholes or gray areas; were these not present, such facilities could be shut down immediately and permanently until each case is fully investigated.
“At this time, these authorities cannot shut down the clinic in question because, unfortunately, there is no necessary legal basis to do so.”
Mr. Oikonomou clarified that plasmapheresis treatment is medically performed by nephrologists and hematologists, while also referring to the legislative gaps identified regarding the importation of such machines.
“Someone who brings in a plasmapheresis machine and obtains a license for it, the law does not clearly state that, in order for that machine to operate under a license, it must be located in a specific licensed facility and used by specific medical specialties,”
“We cannot wait for someone to die before we take action,” said Mr. Oikonomou, adding that “we must do something, and if there is no relevant legislation, we must create it.”
Regarding the discussions that took place at the Presidential Palace, the Chair of the PIS Ethics Committee, Dr. Michalis Anastasiadis, spoke on the “Alpha Kalimera” program and said that the meeting had been scheduled quite some time ago, however, “in light of what has come to public attention,” it was only natural that the discussion addressed the issues of alternative therapies and substandard medical centers.
What the PIS is seeking—and for which it received a positive response from the President—is “the willingness for further cooperation between the PIS and the government and the Ministry of Health.”
This, as Mr. Anastasiades emphasized, specifically concerns “the institutional safeguarding of the PIS and its establishment as the state’s direct partner on issues related to public health, patient safety, the continuous improvement of the quality of health care services, and the fight against the phenomenon of pseudo-therapies or what are presented as ‘alternative’ therapies.”
“We are submitting specific recommendations regarding potential legal loopholes on this issue, such as, for example, imposing stricter penalties for the unauthorized practice of medicine. And the President of the Republic himself responded to this proposal with complete understanding. Of course, this requires a change in the law to enable both the Cyprus Medical Association and the Cyprus Medical Council to tighten the oversight mechanisms ensuring the proper practice of medicine.”
READ ALSO: The law on plasmapheresis is clear: Only by a specialist physician and only in accordance with generally accepted scientific data | AlphaNews
