Makarios Hospital NICU Expansion Delayed to 2027, New Competition in April 2026
The long-awaited expansion and renovation of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Makarios Hospital has faced numerous setbacks, with the latest being a delay until September 2027. Despite this, OKYPY maintains the current NICU's high performance, while a new competition for the project is set to launch in April 2026.
The initial completion date was September 2025, but the first contractor failed to start construction, leading to a termination in July 2025. The cost has risen significantly, from €3.5 million in 2018 to an expected €6 million, with some estimates reaching €9 million. The parents' association 'Miracle Babies' has criticized the delays and urged OKYPY to expedite the process.
Meanwhile, OKYPY has recovered €1.3 million in guarantees and aims to regain control of the construction site by the end of October 2025. The abandoned site has blocked 15 parking spaces used by cancer patients at the neighboring Bank of Cyprus Oncology Center. If no further appeals or disputes arise, the NICU is expected to be delivered in September 2027, nearly five years after the initial foundation stone was laid in 2024.
A new open competition for the project will commence in April 2026, with a contract award expected by July 2026. Despite the challenges, OKYPY insists that the current NICU remains one of the best performing in Europe in terms of survival rates.
