THE PANCYPRIAN Medical Association yesterday submitted more evidence to Nicosia CID about two people they allege are charlatan doctors, stepping up pressure on police to prosecute.
CID chief Tassos Panayiotou told the Cyprus Mail that the President of the Medical Association, Dr Antonis Vassiliou, had drawn his attention to letters apparently written by patients of the accused, complaining of their false pretences.
Vassiliou told the Cyprus Mail he had brought up 20 new instances of malpractice by the two, who he said claimed to be doctors but were not on the Cyprus register of licence physicians.
Panayiotou said he had not seen the letters, because Vassiliou was unable to betray patient confidentiality, but that the next step was to encourage these people to make formal statements to the police.
“I was briefed on their contents,” he said. “I promised Dr Vassiliou our co-operation at all levels and that we shall investigate speedily if we can get statements.”
The new evidence relates to two cases that have been under investigation for some time: the first of a man who claiming crystals can cure people and the second of a woman purporting to be a doctor-biologist.
Vassiliou cited the case of a schoolgirl allegedly misdiagnosed with dyslexia and myopia. Her schoolwork and eyesight subsequently deteriorated because of unsuitable glasses, he said.
But pharmacist George Ktenas yesterday hit out at the case and the attitude of the Medical Association, which he accused of pursuing something perfectly legal.
“I definitely condemn the Medical Association because they are treading on ground they don’t understand. We’ll never get into the European Community if the police prosecute, because there is a directive saying that the government must facilitate and encourage natural therapies,” Ktenas told the Cyprus Mail.
“Doctors provide symptomatic relief; the healer helps the body heal itself. It is a human right to chose your own doctor, your own cure and to seek a cure when you can’t find one elsewhere,” he said.
Vassiliou dismissed his argument. “Look, doctors not on the register are not allowed to diagnose illnesses and make medical prescriptions. That is not allowed anywhere,” he said.
“They treat everything, cancer, paraplegia, arthritis,” he said when pushed about the alleged “crimes”.
Ktenas said practitioners of natural therapies were licensed and fully trained at colleges recognised by the European Union.
An insider close to the case also told the Cyprus Mail that a third case was in the early stages of investigation, concerning publications advertising alternative medicine.
“If they do this thing, then Cyprus will be the only place in the world where alternative therapies are not allowed,” Ktenas warned.
