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Getting medical care became harder across Europe after the pandemic, with delays rising more than 60%, according to a study published Friday. In Cyprus, the figures tell a different story about who went without care. In 2023, just 0.1% of people reported missing out on treatment because of cost, distance or long waiting lists. Cost accounted for the entire reported share.
The Cyprus figures measure whether people went without care for those reasons. They leave room for a familiar experience: waiting for an appointment and eventually being seen. The study recorded 0% in Cyprus for unmet needs linked to waiting lists or distance in both 2022 and 2023. The share linked to cost fell from 0.2% to 0.1%.
The report also looked at the resources available to patients. In 2022, Cyprus spent 8.3% of its economy on healthcare and had about 308 hospital beds and 1,023 healthcare professionals for every 100,000 residents. It recorded about 71 deaths per 100,000 people from conditions considered treatable with timely and effective care.
Researchers at Newcastle University prepared the study for the European Parliament’s public health committee. It examines what causes delays, what happens when patients have to wait and what governments can do to help people get seen sooner.
