Overcrowded emergency departments: Cyprus hospitals under critical pressure due to flu

State hospitals in Cyprus have experienced severe overcrowding in emergency departments (ED) over the past two months. The cause is a sharp wave of flu cases, reported Savvas Iakovou, chairman of the nurses’ union PASYNΟ.

Speaking on Astra radio, he described the situation as chaotic, noting that many patients are forced to remain in emergency areas because hospitals cannot accommodate them in wards. According to him, the problem is systemic and is related not only to seasonal illness but also to errors in healthcare system planning.

PASYNΟ claims that, despite warnings, the state healthcare operator OKYPY previously closed about 100 hospital beds nationwide, which now seriously exacerbates the situation.

According to Iakovou, not only patients forced to wait for hours are affected, but also medical staff, who work at their limits and face growing public dissatisfaction. The union warned that, without concrete solutions, it may take responsive measures.

For its part, OKYPY rejects the accusations. Organization representative Charalambos Charilaou confirmed the increase in patients but stated that the system is coping with the workload.

He said that state hospitals have more than 140 reserve beds, and current occupancy is about 90%, which, he emphasized, does not indicate a management failure. He also noted that the private healthcare sector cannot accommodate a significant portion of patients, so the main burden falls on state hospitals.

Charilaou stated that there are currently no vacant nursing positions, but after the 2026 budget approval, OKYPY will be able to announce new vacancies.

Despite clarifications from both sides, the situation in emergency departments remains at the limit of capacity, and tensions between the union and healthcare management continue to escalate.