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Patient Lost Transplant Opportunity Due to Ambulance Shortage - Comprehensive Action Plan Requested

Published February 10, 2026, 09:36
Patient Lost Transplant Opportunity Due to Ambulance Shortage - Comprehensive Action Plan Requested

A 38-year-old patient missed a transplant opportunity due to the inability to find an ambulance to transport him from Cyprus to Athens, where a compatible organ was found. The incident prompted an immediate response from the Minister of Health, Neofytos Charalambides, who requested a comprehensive action plan from the OAY for the management of emergency transplant cases. The Minister emphasized the need for pre-defined and immediately applicable transport protocols, as well as alternative options in case the primary choice is not available. The patient's family has already submitted a request to travel to Greece and wait for the transplant there. The Minister of Health stated that the problem was not a lack of personnel, but a lack of proper planning and procedures, while stressing the importance of protocols to avoid similar incidents in the future.