treatment abroad — The parents of a 25-year-old left blind and hemiplegic after a traffic accident are fighting for his transfer to a specialised rehabilitation centre abroad after the Health Ministry rejected their funding request.
- His mother recounted the moment they received the devastating news: “Police woke us at 4am, knocking on our door. They told us quickly, go to the hospital, your son is in danger.”
- Upon returning to Melathron, Andreas was unable to speak or move. His parents, committed to his care, travelled daily from Larnaca to be by his side.
Kyriacos Charalambous and his wife Georgina have sent three letters to the ministry requesting approval to send their son, Andreas Xenios Charalambous, for treatment, but were informed that his case does not meet the criteria for financial assistance.
Treatment abroad: A Life-Changing Incident
Andreas was seriously injured on 30 November 2024 when he opened the door of a moving car in Larnaca and fell onto the road, suffering severe head trauma. According to a police bulletin, he was a passenger in a car driven by a peer.
His mother recounted the moment they received the devastating news: “Police woke us at 4am, knocking on our door. They told us quickly, go to the hospital, your son is in danger.”
Initially taken to A&E in Larnaca, his life-threatening injuries necessitated an immediate transfer to Nicosia Hospital, where he underwent a craniectomy and was intubated in the ICU due to a serious craniocerebral injury. His parents recalled, “They told us he wouldn’t make it. They gave us no hope.”
Long Road to Recovery
Andreas remained in the ICU from 30 November 2024 to 24 February 2025, after which he was transferred to Melathron for rehabilitation. His condition was so critical that he required another transfer back to Nicosia Hospital for brain valve placement, a surgery that lasted ten hours, followed by a month in the ICU.
Upon returning to Melathron, Andreas was unable to speak or move. His parents, committed to his care, travelled daily from Larnaca to be by his side.
Signs of Improvement
Despite the overwhelming challenges, Andreas has shown encouraging signs of progress. Now haemodynamically stable, he is able to move his hands and feet and is beginning to speak, though he remains blind. His mother shared that it took months to confirm his blindness, necessitating the involvement of a private doctor from Israel for a second opinion.
Dr David M. Linton, the Israeli doctor, believes that specialised therapy for at least three months could significantly improve Andreas’s condition. A recent medical report from 18 January 2026 indicates that he continues to experience blindness and left hemiplegia. Nevertheless, he has made strides in his speech, articulating words more clearly, although he struggles to find the right words at times.
Rejection from the Health Ministry
In their quest for further treatment, the Charalambous family submitted a request for financial assistance under the Scheme for Financial Assistance for Health Services not offered in the Public Sector. This request was ultimately rejected by the Health Ministry. In a letter dated 20 November 2025, the ministry stated that the medical report from their GP, Dr K.N., did not substantiate that treatment abroad would lead to substantial health improvement.
The Physiotherapy Specialists Committee recommended that therapy could be effectively conducted at a rehabilitation centre in Cyprus, as outlined in Article 2 of the Financial Assistance Scheme. The process requires a medical report from a contracted neurologist or neurosurgeon who must submit the request to the Health Insurance Organisation.
Ongoing Struggles and Uncertainties
Compounding their frustrations, the doctors at Melathron monitoring Andreas have reportedly not consented to his transfer abroad, leaving the family disheartened and uncertain about their son’s future. The couple, who adopted Andreas when he was two years old, expressed their deep concern, saying, “When we leave this life, who will care for him?”
