HEALTH MINISTER Christos Patsalides yesterday ordered an administrative investigation into allegations made by Politis newspaper that the state paid €17,000 to fix the teeth of Deputy Attorney-general Akis Papasavvas.
The minister ordered the investigation after discovering that certain documents were missing from the case file on Papasavvas regarding his request for the state to cover surgery for ten teeth implants provided by a private doctor.
The deputy AG yesterday categorically denied any wrongdoing or irregularity, pledging to sue the paper for a fifth time.
According to yesterday’s Politis, Papasavvas, whose annual gross state income surpasses €100,000, requested the health services to cover the cost of his ten implants, obtained over two years from a private craniofacial surgeon.
In February, 2010, he allegedly sent a handwritten letter to the head of the health services, who was also acting permanent secretary at the time, requesting the state cover his expenses, which had reached €17,000 for the implants and surgery. The paper reported that his request was met with speedy approval and return of the money the following month.
Politis argued that the law on state and public officials provides that they, their spouses and children are entitled to free dental care restricted to extractions and fillings carried out by government dentists.
Patsalides yesterday told reporters that the acting permanent secretary, who has since retired, received Papasavvas’ letter on February 22 seeking dental cover. She passed it on to a special committee of dentists for an opinion, which responded positively to the request since the services obtained from the private doctor were not offered by the public health service.
However, when the minister requested to see the case file, he found that certain documents were missing, like the report of the special committee, and so ordered an administrative investigation.
The investigation will clarify the way in which the request was handled, he said.
“We have to see whether the procedures were adhered to and in what way any decisions were taken,” said Patsalides.
He added that public funds are available for surgery but not for cosmetic or other purposes. “But this has to be made clear by the answers of the panel of doctors in the special committee,” he said.
Speaking on state radio yesterday, Papasavvas said he was not obliged to give any explanation. “The style and manner of the article reveal the motives of the owner and the journalist,” he said. “Everything is above board, there were no irregularities and I have already given instructions to my lawyer to file a libel lawsuit against the paper and the journalist,” he added.
