The Health Insurance Organization (HIO) announced the suspension of the contract of the private hospital in Nicosia with the General Health System, after the suspension of the hospital's operating license in relation to the detection of the legionella bacterium.
The HIO states that it immediately activated the relevant procedure, as soon as it received official information from the Superintendent of Private Hospitals of the Ministry of Health. The suspension of the contract was completed within the same day.
During the suspension, the hospital cannot operate as a contracted provider of inpatient care in the GHS. This means that it is not allowed to carry out new patient admissions through the System nor to submit claims for reimbursement for services that fall under the suspension period.
According to the HIO, the suspension of the contract is valid from the date and time of issuance of the relevant decree and remains in force for as long as the suspension of the hospital's operating license lasts.
For patients who were already hospitalized, their management is based on the legislation and instructions of the competent Authority.
The Organization clarifies that the competence for the issuance, revocation or annulment of decrees concerning the license to operate private hospitals belongs to the Registrar of Private Hospitals.
In case the suspension of the operating license is lifted, the hospital will have to submit the official documentation to the HIO, so that the reinstatement of its contract with the GHS can be considered.
The Agency assures that it closely monitors developments and takes the actions that fall within its competences.
In the meantime, the condition of the infant who was born in this hospital and showed severe symptoms of Legionnaires' disease, is still being treated at Makarios Hospital.
At the same time, the competent services of the Ministry of Health are waiting tomorrow for the results of the laboratory tests to which samples taken from the water supply system of the hospital and the house in which the newborn's family lives are subjected.
