Around 860 doctors from Greece are currently working in Cyprus’ General Healthcare System (GeSY), out of a total of about 3,400 physicians, according to a report by the newspaper Ta Nea. This equates to nearly one in four doctors in the system and highlights a growing trend: Cyprus has become a professional destination for doctors trained or employed in Greece’s healthcare system.
The report attributes the migration largely to financial incentives and working conditions. It features the testimony of paediatrician and neonatologist Eirini Christopoulou, who has worked at Athens Children’s Hospital ‘Agia Sofia’, in the UK, and in Greece’s National Health System (ESY), before relocating to Cyprus to serve at Limassol General Hospital.
She describes daily life in ESY as a constant struggle, with doctors expected to take on multiple roles beyond clinical duties. By contrast, she says the environment in Cyprus is more structured, with better conditions resembling the UK system.
Why they are coming
Cyprus’ Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides said GeSY offers advantages for both patients and healthcare professionals. These include universal and equal access to care, an organised operational framework, the ability for patients to choose their personal doctor and provider, and the coexistence of public and private sectors within a single system.
This latter aspect is particularly significant for Greek doctors. GeSY expands career opportunities beyond public hospitals, allowing employment in private hospitals, medical centres and other facilities. The minister also pointed to the system’s digitalisation and ongoing infrastructure upgrades, which improve the day-to-day experience for both patients and medical staff.
Specialties in demand
Behind the overall figure of about 860 Greek doctors, the distribution across specialties varies. Based on available data and public professional profiles, the strongest presence appears in cardiology, internal medicine, general surgery and general practice.
In cardiology, doctors with training or professional experience in Greece account for close to 40% of the sample. Internal medicine follows at about 30%, while general surgery stands at roughly 25%. In general practice, the figure is around 20%, a specialty closely linked to primary care and the institution of the personal doctor.
These figures do not represent an official breakdown by nationality or country of origin. Instead, they reflect trends drawn from available data, CVs and professional profiles indicating education, specialisation or work experience in Greece.
Beyond the public sector
Demand for Greek doctors in Cyprus is not driven solely by higher earnings than in ESY. The need intensified with the launch of GeSY in June 2019, when many doctors moved from public hospitals into the private sector, leaving vacancies that needed to be filled. Greece became the most immediate recruitment pool due to the shared language, similar training systems and geographical proximity.
In the years since, demand has expanded further. GeSY has grown the healthcare services market, with more private hospitals, medical centres, laboratories and diagnostic imaging centres joining or strengthening their presence within the system. In 2023, there were 60 contracted hospitals, 156 laboratories and 83 diagnostic centres, while by early 2025 the number of contracted hospitals had risen to 70.
This expansion explains why the inflow of Greek doctors is no longer limited to public hospitals but extends to the private and outpatient sectors, which continue to require staff to meet rising demand for healthcare services.
