Police investigations are currently underway regarding a medical center in Larnaca that allegedly performed plasmapheresis treatments without the required licenses.
It should be noted that the investigation began following a complaint from the Ministry of Health—the third in a row —in which the Ministry informed the police that the center in question does not hold a clinic license, only a medical office license, and is performing plasmapheresis treatments that are not appropriate to be performed in non-hospital settings by non-specialist physicians.
The death of the popular singer Giorgos Mazonakis at a medical clinic in Kolonaki during a plasmapheresis treatment sparked a major controversy regarding “quackery” in Cyprus as well, raising the alarm about the existence of unscrupulous medical facilities that offer dubious treatment methods and promise miracles to unsuspecting patients.
The Pan-Cyprian Medical Association sounded the alarm about the entire situation, noting that, fueled by the power of social media, “quacks” of all kinds have become emboldened, offering so-called alternative therapies with no scientific basis that may even endanger human lives.
However, regarding the center in Larnaca that is currently under police investigation, we had revealed in a previous article that the Cyprus Medical Association (CMA) had issued an opinion on the matter four years ago at the request of the Ministry of Health, when the first complaint was filed by medical professionals.
In its opinion at that time, the PIS made it clear that, based on a review of the international scientific literature, prescribing dual antiplatelet or LDL plasmapheresis for the treatment of long-COVID syndrome is not an established medical practice. In fact, regarding this particular machine, the PIS clarified that it must be used in a hospital setting by specialized personnel (e.g., nephrology clinics). Regarding intravenous therapies, the PIS emphasized in its letter that none of them are indicated for the treatment of post-COVID syndrome.
As for the Ministry’s complaints from 2022 and 2023, these were investigated, with the police forwarding the relevant file to the Office of the Attorney General for guidance. In both cases, the Office of the Attorney General ruled that there was insufficient evidence to bring the case to court, and consequently, the center in question continued to operate.
However, according to our latest information, the center’s operations have not been suspended, although the investigation by law enforcement authorities has not yet been completed.
What the Law Says About Plasmapheresis
The law, however, regarding therapeutic plasmapheresis—which dates back to 1999—appears to be clear and leaves no room for misinterpretation, since it clearly states that such treatment may be performed only by a specialist physician and only in accordance with generally accepted scientific evidence.
Specifically, the legal framework for this type of treatment is set forth in Article 9(11) of Presidential Decree 322/99, which states that: “Therapeutic plasmapheresis may be performed under the responsibility of a specialist physician in accordance with generally accepted scientific data.”
Indeed, a violation of this law is considered a criminal offense and is punishable, pursuant to Article 37(1)(g) of Law 58(I)/1997, with imprisonment or a fine, or both.
According to legal experts, the above provisions outline the legislative framework within which such medical procedures may be performed, by whom, and under what conditions.
Importantly, however, as legal experts have pointed out to us, the law does not merely refer generally to “plasma removal” but distinguishes between “plasma removal” from blood donors and “therapeutic plasma removal,” providing different interpretations and guidelines for each. This leaves no room for confusion regarding what is permitted and what is prohibited when the plasmapheresis procedure is performed for therapeutic purposes.
READ ALSO: EXCLUSIVE: The PIS had already issued an opinion regarding the unscrupulous practices of the suspect center in Larnaca as early as 2022 | AlphaNews
