Newsroom
When the treatment a patient needs cannot be provided in Cyprus in time, getting help abroad can become a race against the clock.
During its first year managing overseas referrals, the Health Insurance Organization approved 932 of 1,304 requests for GHS beneficiaries to receive care abroad, according to figures released Friday.
The organization also reported 101 medical air transfers to European countries and Israel, including 30 emergency transfers and 23 involving life-threatening cases. The remaining 48 were classified as routine.
For patients and their families, one of the most important figures is how long it takes to reach a hospital.
According to the HIO, the average time between submitting a request and admission to a hospital abroad was 1.5 days for life-threatening cases, five days for emergencies, and 22 days for routine cases.
These are averages, rather than guaranteed waiting times for individual patients.
The HIO took over management of the process on Oct. 2, 2025. It covers healthcare included in the GHS benefits package that cannot be provided through the system in Cyprus within the required timeframe.
That distinction matters: Overseas treatment is an option when the necessary care cannot be delivered here in time, rather than simply because a patient prefers a foreign hospital.
Of the approved requests, 24 were classified as life-threatening and 86 as emergencies.
Germany received the largest share of referrals, at 28.4%, followed by Greece at 21.2%, the United Kingdom at 18.5% and Israel at 11.7%.
Hematology—the treatment of blood disorders—accounted for the most referrals. Oncology, pediatrics, orthopedics, and ophthalmology followed.
Any registered GHS beneficiary can submit a request, provided the treatment meets the scheme’s conditions. Specialist expert groups assess applications and give documented recommendations to the HIO, which makes the final decision. Applicants are informed through the GHS information system.
The organization assessed its first year positively, particularly the speed of handling cases and cooperation with specialists and hospitals abroad.
It said it has also issued instructions to healthcare providers to improve the quality and completeness of applications and ensure patients receive clearer information about the outcome. Its network of medical air transport partners has been expanded.
The next priority is to shorten transfer times further and improve coordination between treating doctors and overseas hospitals, particularly when a patient’s condition makes every day count.
