Long-standing weaknesses in management, oversight, staffing, and maintenance, as well as a lack of clarity regarding responsibilities for the storage of bodies at the morgue of Paphos General Hospital, as noted by the Audit Office in its report, noting that in one instance, a body remained in a refrigerator for 1,040 days, while the recommended limit is approximately 30 days. It is emphasized that since 2023, complaints had been recorded regarding the smell of decomposition, overcrowding of bodies, and a lack of cleanliness, yet no corrective measures were taken.
“Such conditions are not merely a matter of showing due respect to the deceased and their families. They raise issues of hygiene, workplace safety, and, more broadly, the protection of public health,” the report emphasizes. It was compiled following an unannounced inspection in May 2026 after media reports that the morgue’s refrigeration unit had suffered serious damage, and OKYPY decided to temporarily suspend the morgue’s operations.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
It should be noted that physical access to the facilities was not possible, as disinfection work was being carried out during the visit, and it is clarified that the findings are based on interviews with staff from the General Hospital of P, the Ministry of Health, OKYPY, and the Department of Electromechanical Services, as well as on correspondence obtained during the audit.
“The evidence examined revealed that bodies remained in the storage refrigerator for extended periods of time. Consequently, it has been determined that the General Hospital of Patras does not adhere to the relevant international standards for the storage of bodies, which clearly has implications for both the preservation of their condition and their dignified treatment,” the report states. It adds that there is a risk of misidentification of bodies, and deficiencies have been identified in the mechanisms for monitoring and tracking bodies, which carries the risk of their storage location not being properly recorded and makes it difficult to locate them when necessary.
The Audit Office also reports that during the audit, specifically upon reviewing relevant correspondence, it was found that the OKYPY Administration was unaware that the management of mortuary operations falls under the Agency’s responsibility, and there is mention of inadequate monitoring and maintenance of criticalequipment.
“Specifically, based on the data provided to us, we were unable to confirm that maintenance on the refrigeration equipment was performed at the frequency stipulated in the contract to ensure its proper operation. Furthermore, the Department of Electromechanical Services, as the contracting authority, did not conduct the necessary inspections of either the contractor’s equipment and maintenance work as well as on the maintenance log,” the report states.
It was also found that there was no alarm system to notify in the event of a malfunction, with the result that the problem was detected due to the strong odor observed on the hospital premises, there is no business continuity plan specifying the actions to be taken, responsible parties, and alternative facilities in the event of a malfunction of the refrigeration equipment and insufficient staffing of the mortuary operations manager.
Audit Service Recommendations
In its report, the Audit Service makes recommendations for the storage of remains in accordance with international standards, to ensure proper management and the necessary respect, for proper maintenance of the automated temperature monitoring system for cold storage rooms, with immediate notification in the event of a malfunction or deviation from permissible limits, the creation of a central log of malfunctions, maintenance, and repairs of critical equipment, and the preparation of an approved written emergency plan that specifies the actions, the responsible parties, and alternative storage facilities in the event the morgue is unable to operate.
It also calls for consideration of the finalization of the agreement on the assignment of use between the Ministry of Health and OKYPY, so that responsibilities for the operation and management of mortuaries are clearly defined.
Clarifications from OKYPY
The report also includes a response from OKYPY stating, among other things, that the morgue, on the day of the malfunction, was being used solely for the storage of bodies in refrigeration and freezer units. Following the malfunction, only the freezer remained operational, and autopsies had already been suspended.
It is reported that approximately 30 days is the recommended period for storing a body in a refrigerated storage unit. If the storage period is expected to be longer, the body should be stored in a freezer, and the coordinator of the maintenance contract for the mortuary’s equipment is an official from the Department of Electromechanical Services (EMS) of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Public Works, it is noted.
Source: CNA
