In stark contrast to earlier reports by the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis – who, after being informed by a citizen, went to the EOPYY pharmacy on Alexandras Avenue with a locksmith—comes an announcement by EOPYY, signed by the organization’s administrator, Theano Karpodini.

The announcement refers to a “delay in the opening of one of the two pharmacies of the Organization,” for which EOPYY apologizes to the insured for the inconvenience caused until the issue was resolved. Simultaneously, there is a clear attempt to deflect responsibility by attributing the problem to the usual understaffing.

It is further claimed that the pharmacy that failed to open does not provide medications to oncology patients. However, those familiar with the facility know that there are two waiting lines: one for oncology medications and another for other serious conditions requiring High-Cost Medicines. This means that those inconvenienced today are individuals dealing with severe health problems, including oncology patients.

Staff Absences and Administration’s Response

The announcement also claims that absent employees failed to notify the administration of their illness, stating:
“The regular public service hours begin at 8:00 a.m., and as soon as the Administration was informed of the inability to open the pharmacy at the scheduled time, it immediately instructed pharmacists from the central office to proceed to the pharmacy.”

With the assistance of the regional director responsible for the pharmacy, who arrived on-site and ensured it was opened, operations were fully restored by 10:00 a.m., and the insured were served.

The obvious question that arises here is why, if this was the case, the Minister of Health himself took the patients’ prescriptions.

Investigation and Measures Announced

The EOPYY statement emphasizes that “a directive has already been issued by the Administration for a thorough investigation of the incident and the assignment of any and all responsibilities.”

The announcement also attributes increased patient visits to certain pharmacies in recent days to reduced response speeds in electronic systems caused by the recent cyberattack on the SYZEFXIS network and the new electronic prescription system. This delay in service led to some insured individuals needing to visit today as well.

Staffing Issues and New Measures for Patient Convenience

Ms. Karpodini points out that “to facilitate the insured and ensure home delivery of their medications, a significant project for the home shipment of drugs has been scheduled. This program has already been implemented on a pilot basis since 2024 and will be fully rolled out after April 2025, following the completion of the relevant tender process.”

The announcement concludes by stating that “EOPYY and its staff will continue to make every possible effort daily to ensure the uninterrupted service of the insured.”

Full EOPYY Statement:
Regarding today’s delay in the opening of one of the two pharmacies of the Organization on Alexandras Avenue, EOPYY apologizes to its insured members for the inconvenience they experienced until the issue was resolved. The specific pharmacy does not provide medications to oncology patients, who were served without issue by the adjacent pharmacy.

The delay in opening the pharmacy was due to the simultaneous illness and subsequent absence of employees without prior notification to the Administration.

The regular public service hours begin at 8:00 a.m., and as soon as the Administration was informed of the inability to open the pharmacy at the scheduled time, it immediately instructed pharmacists from the central office to proceed to the pharmacy.

With the assistance of the regional director responsible for the pharmacy, who immediately arrived and ensured its opening, operations were fully restored by 10:00 a.m., and the insured were served.

A directive has already been issued by the Administration for a thorough investigation of the incident and the assignment of any and all responsibilities.

It should be noted that the increased patient visits observed at certain pharmacies in recent days are due to reduced response speeds in electronic applications caused by the recent cyberattack on the SYZEFXIS network and the new electronic prescription execution system. These delays resulted in some insured individuals needing to visit today as well.

EOPYY, to better serve patients, has consistently taken all necessary institutional actions to hire the required personnel, especially pharmacists, given the severe understaffing it faces.

Insured individuals are also informed that through Memoranda of Understanding with private clinics, there is no need for them to visit pharmacies themselves, as they can receive their medications directly from the private clinics where they undergo treatment.

Furthermore, insured individuals being treated at public hospitals can obtain their medications from the pharmacies of the hospitals they visit for treatment.

To facilitate the insured and ensure home delivery of their medications, a significant project for home shipment has been scheduled. This program has already been implemented on a pilot basis since 2024 and will be fully rolled out after April 2025, following the completion of the relevant tender process.

EOPYY and its staff will continue to make every possible effort daily to ensure the uninterrupted service of the insured.