Only 66 of the 168 innovative medicines approved in Europe between 2021 and 2024 are available in Cyprus, with patients waiting an average of 528 days to access new treatments. The figures come from the latest W.A.I.T. Indicator study by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), which tracks the time and degree of patient access to innovative medicines across European countries.
According to data published by the Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies (KEFEA), Cyprus ranks 21st among 36 European countries and remains below the European average for overall availability of new therapies. The European average stands at 45%, or approximately 76 innovative medicines available per country, compared to the 39% recorded in Cyprus.
Access with restrictions
The picture is further complicated by the conditions attached to the medicines that do reach Cyprus. Of the 66 innovative drugs available on the island, only 2% are dispensed without restrictions or additional procedures, while 92% require special approvals or are subject to other limitations. For patients, the presence of a drug within the system offers little comfort if access to it involves lengthy bureaucratic processes.
Cyprus does perform slightly better than the European average on waiting time: the 528-day average compares favourably to the 36-country mean of 597 days. However, industry representatives argue that the more significant problem lies not in how long the process takes but in how few medicines ultimately reach patients at all.
Regulatory delays and budget constraints
The pharmaceutical industry attributes the delays primarily to the slowness of regulatory procedures, differing assessment requirements and constrained health budgets. KEFEA president Kyriakos Mikellis said that, despite some improvement in the availability of new therapies in recent years, delays remain a serious problem for patients in Cyprus. He noted that the assessment of new medicines can in some cases take two or even three years, and called for adherence to timelines and increased investment in pharmaceuticals. The industry is also calling for changes that would allow patients to access new medicines immediately after European approval, even before national assessment and reimbursement procedures are completed.
A brighter picture for cancer drugs
The one area where Cyprus performs above its overall average is oncology. According to the study, 32 of the 56 new cancer medicines included in the research are available in Cyprus, a rate of 57%. Even so, the broader picture points to serious challenges in ensuring timely and equitable patient access to medical innovation across the board.
For patients, the waiting period is not simply an administrative indicator. It represents the probability of better treatment, improved quality of life and, in many cases, a question of survival.
