Assessing the Impact of Nicosia Health Ministry Flooding
In a striking case of déjà vu, the Health Ministry’s storage facility in Nicosia has suffered extensive damage due to flooding, echoing a similar incident from last year that affected government servers. The flood, caused by extreme weather conditions on Green Monday, March 18, has led to the destruction of a large quantity of medications, with the financial toll still under evaluation.
The incident, which occurred amidst a hailstorm, has raised concerns over potential shortages of medicines for patients. However, Health Minister Michalis Damianou has been quick to address these concerns, stating that measures are being taken to prevent any shortage. Despite the delay in public acknowledgment, Damianou refuted any suggestion of concealment and promised a thorough investigation into the matter.
Preventing shortages is now the ministry’s primary concern. An ad hoc committee of pharmacologists has been convened to assess the damage and take stock of the affected medications. The compromised supplies included a range of drugs from specialised therapeutics to general hospital medicines. These stocks are crucial as they are managed on behalf of both the health insurance organisation (HIO) and the state health services (OKYPY).
The recent flooding has brought to light previous concerns regarding the suitability of the building for storing such valuable assets. Reports indicate that the drugs housed within the facility were worth tens of millions of euros. The ministry has assured that both HIO and OKYPY were notified immediately following the incident.
This event bears a striking resemblance to last April’s flooding in the Finance Ministry’s basement, where an unauthorised water tank leak led to significant disruptions in government services. The affected services included key departments such as the Ministry of Finance, Tax Department, and Department of Customs, among others.
As the Health Ministry navigates through this crisis, Minister Damianou has emphasized the importance of accountability and the need for a comprehensive assessment. The focus remains steadfast on maintaining an uninterrupted supply of medications to patients while addressing the vulnerabilities exposed by this natural disaster.
