The state health organisation said it would be looking into Friday’s reports regarding the embezzlement of more than €30 million for neurolysis treatments and would take action “if deemed necessary”.

Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos who made the allegations in a video on social media said that the embezzlement occurred over two years, with treatments allegedly skyrocketing from 100 per year before Gesy to 4,500 after the national health system was introduced.

In a press release, the state health organisation (HIO) said treatments under Gesy, including neurolysis, were prescribed on the basis of protocols.

“The specific treatment intervention is used as a last resort treatment in patients suffering from neuropathic, musculoskeletal or cancer pain, who are not responding to previous lines of treatment and meet specific criteria for which preapproval is granted by the organisation,” it said.

HIO added that it carries out checks and where misuse or fraud are found it takes measures.

It said it would not tolerate the “unacceptable, unfair and unfounded targeting” of its officers, who were “carrying out their duties in a professional and responsible manner”.

“Any reports or evidence that could facilitate the work of the organisation in combatting embezzlement and fraud are expected to be submitted before it. The organisation has all the tools to carry out a thorough investigation of all reports,” it added.

Neurolysis is the application of physical or chemical agents to a nerve in order to cause a temporary degeneration of targeted nerve fibres. In the medical field, this is most commonly and advantageously used to alleviate pain in cancer patients.

The state health organisation said it would be carrying out an ex officio investigation of Phedonos’ allegations and would take action if and when it deemed it necessary.

On Friday, Phedonos said that 4,500 neurolysis treatments were performed in 2023 at a cost of over €17 million, while for 2024 so far there had been 3,300 treatments at a total cost of around €15 million.

These treatments, he said, should not have cost the taxpayer more than €1 million.

Phedonos explained that each treatment costs €3,200 for the doctor’s fee and clinic charges, while consumables were valued at €1,200, compared to €268 for the same materials in Greece.

The mayor said some conscientious doctors reacted to the cost of consumables and they were later reduced to €650.

Replying to Phedonos’ reports, state health organisation director Athos Tsinontides said no such complaint had been received and called on anyone with information to come forward.

Phedonas said in his video that the money could have funded the renovation of Paphos’ general hospital.