Cyprus - Healthcare

The General Healthcare System (GHS) is a comprehensive system that offers equal access to healthcare services for all citizens, with the option to choose their healthcare provider from both the private and the public sector.

It covers:

Healthcare services by personal doctors
Healthcare services by specialist doctors
Pharmaceutical products
Laboratory tests
Inpatient healthcare services
Healthcare services in cases of accidents and emergencies
Ambulance services
Healthcare services by nurses, midwives, clinical psychologists, clinical dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists
Preventive dental healthcare services
Palliative healthcare and medical rehabilitation

In what situation can I claim?

The right to health within the GHS is independent from the payment of contributions so everybody has equal access to healthcare services provided. Beneficiaries enrol in the GHS and register in a personal doctor’s list of their choice. The personal doctor is responsible for promotion of health and the prevention and treatment of illnesses, as well as for guiding the beneficiary within the GHS by referring him/her to the appropriate healthcare provider. Beneficiaries may choose the specialist doctor, pharmacy, laboratory, hospital or any other private or public healthcare provider they wish.

What conditions do I need to meet?

All citizens who are permanent residents in the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and come under one of the following categories have access to the GHS:

Cypriot citizens
European citizens who work or hold a permanent residence status in accordance with the provisions of the national legislation
Third country nationals (non-EU citizens) who hold a permanent residence status or a right of equal treatment in accordance with the provisions of the national legislation
Members of the families of the above categories in accordance with the provisions of the national legislation
Refugees and persons with a status of supplementary protection.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

General Health System covers: - Healthcare services by personal doctors - Healthcare services by specialist doctors –Pharmaceutical products – Laboratory tests – Inpatient healthcare services – Healthcare services in cases of accidents and emergencies – Ambulance services – Healthcare services by nurses, midwives, clinical psychologists, clinical dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists – Preventive dental healthcare services – Palliative healthcare and medical rehabilitation.

The right to health within the GHS is independent from the payment of contributions. Thus, beneficiaries without an income (unemployed, children, students, soldiers and others) have equal access to health care services.

Beneficiaries have access to healthcare services after they enroll in the GHS and register in a personal doctor’s list of their choice. Beneficiaries can enroll in the GHS and register with a personal doctor either online or by visiting a personal doctor. Personal doctors will be the first contact point of beneficiaries with the GHS and are responsible to provide all required healthcare services as well as to guide and refer the beneficiaries to more specialized healthcare services when and if this is needed. Beneficiaries may choose the specialist doctor, pharmacy, laboratory, hospital or any other private or public healthcare provider they wish.

Mental Health Services

The services focus on three main axes: a) Mental Health Services for Adults (Mental Health Hospital and two Psychiatric Clinics in General Hospitals – Nicosia and Limassol, Mental Health Community Centers and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Units), b) the Child and Adolescent Mental Health c) the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependence.

The services provided follow the European and International Standards and Guidelines, especially those of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Mental Health Services are under the management of the State Health Service Organization since 1/6/2019.

Jargon busters

Dependent member:

(i) the spouse;

(ii) direct descendants who are aged under 21 or are supported by the member, as well as those of the spouse.

European Economic Area (EEA): the participating members are: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the European Union and its 28 Member States.
Government hospitals: hospitals of a public nature: five general hospitals, two regional hospitals, one mother and child hospital, as well as 42 health centres (urban and rural).