Newsroom
Cyprus recorded the lowest rate of unmet medical needs in the European Union for 2024, with just 0.2% of residents aged 16 and over reporting barriers to care, according to new data released by Eurostat. This marks a visible success for the country’s General Healthcare System (GHS), launched in 2019.
The EU average stood at 3.8%, with Greece reporting the highest rate at 13.4%.
The most common reasons cited across the EU for not receiving needed medical treatment were long waiting lists (1.4%) and high costs (1%), accounting for more than half of all unmet care cases. Other contributing factors included personal time constraints, fear, or uncertainty about whom to consult.
In countries like Germany, Ireland, and Sweden, waiting lists were the primary barrier. In contrast, financial obstacles were most prevalent in southern and eastern member states, including Greece, France, and Romania.
Cyprus also reported one of the lowest rates of unmet dental care needs in the EU at 2.5%, compared to the EU average of 4.6%. High costs were by far the leading reason cited for unmet dental needs across 23 of 27 member states.
Germany and Malta had the lowest rates of unmet dental care needs (0.7% and 0.8%, respectively), while Greece topped the list at 15.3%.
The Eurostat findings underscore the GHS's positive impact in Cyprus, setting it apart in a region where financial and systemic barriers continue to limit access to healthcare.
