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Stranded Patients in Israel: Repatriation Process Underway

Published March 3, 2026, 12:11
Stranded Patients in Israel: Repatriation Process Underway

Monica Kyriakou, Director of the Health Insurance Organization (HIO), spoke about the situation of Cypriot patients hospitalized in Israel amid the escalation of the conflict. Currently, there are eight patients and eight accompanying relatives in Israel. The HIO is in constant communication with hospitals to ensure their safety and continued medical care. Most of the patients are serious cases, mainly newborns and infants who need specialized treatment. The patients and their companions have been transferred to safe spaces within the hospitals, such as underground shelters, without interruption of medical care. Three patients have expressed a desire to return to Cyprus, and the HIO is collecting medical information to determine if their transfer is safe and if they can continue their treatment in suitable hospitals in Cyprus. If deemed feasible, their return will be organized, even with air ambulance. Dr. Kyriakou stressed that this is a dynamic process and that the authorities are closely monitoring developments, with the safety and health of patients as their top priority.