The Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) assessed 1,304 applications for the overseas treatment of GESY beneficiaries during its first year managing the process, approving 932 requests and overseeing 101 medical air transfers.
According to the HIO, the average time between application and hospital admission abroad ranged from one-and-a-half days for life-threatening cases to 22 days for routine cases.
The organisation assumed responsibility for overseas referrals on 2 October 2025. The scheme applies to cases where required healthcare services cannot be provided in Cyprus within the timeframe prescribed under GESY.
Approvals and air transfers
Of the 932 approved applications:
- 24 involved life-threatening cases
- 86 involved urgent cases
During the same period, 101 air medical evacuations were carried out to destinations across Europe and Israel.
Of those transfers:
- 48 involved routine cases
- 30 involved urgent cases
- 23 involved life-threatening cases
Response times
The HIO said admission times to hospitals abroad are meeting its operational targets according to the severity of each case.
The average time from submission of an application to hospitalisation was:
- 1.5 days for life-threatening cases
- 5 days for urgent cases
- 22 days for routine cases
Most referrals to Germany
Most patients were referred to hospitals in Germany, which accounted for 28.4% of all overseas treatments during the first 12 months.
Other destinations included:
- Greece: 21.2%
- United Kingdom: 18.5%
- Israel: 11.7%
The medical specialties most frequently requiring treatment abroad were:
- Haematology
- Oncology
- Paediatrics
- Orthopaedics
- Ophthalmology
How applications are assessed
Any person registered as a GESY beneficiary may apply for treatment abroad.
Requested services must be covered by GESY but unavailable in Cyprus within the clinically required timeframe.
All applications are assessed by specialised expert panels, which review each patient's medical condition and submit recommendations to the HIO. The organisation then makes the final decision and informs applicants through the GESY information system.
The HIO noted that it does not cover:
- Experimental or insufficiently tested treatments
- Services relating solely to the administration of medication
- Treatments not recognised by conventional medicine
- Telemedicine services
- Treatments already received before an application is submitted
Specialised laboratory tests, ocular prostheses and prosthetic limbs remain under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health until their transfer to the HIO.
Focus on further improvements
The HIO described the first year of implementation positively, citing efficient case management and cooperation with expert panels and overseas hospitals.
The organisation said it continues to monitor the process closely and has already issued guidance to healthcare providers aimed at improving the quality and completeness of applications, while also ensuring beneficiaries receive better information about outcomes.
It has also strengthened its network of partners providing air ambulance services.
Looking ahead, the HIO said its objectives include reducing referral times further, strengthening scientific assessment procedures and improving coordination with treating physicians and hospitals abroad, particularly in urgent and life-threatening cases.
