GESY (Cyprus General Healthcare System)

GESY is how most healthcare in Cyprus is funded and accessed. The HIO keeps a Beneficiary Registry and contracts doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other providers. To use GESY services you must be in the Beneficiary Registry and on a personal doctor's list, and the personal doctor is your entry point to specialists.

For a health professional moving to Cyprus, GESY matters twice: as your own health cover once you work, and as the system you will work in, whether in a public hospital or with a private provider contracted with the HIO.

The HIO's beneficiary categories say non-EU citizens qualify if they are ordinary residents of the government-controlled areas and either hold a permanent residence permit or have the right of equal treatment in social insurance under the Aliens and Immigration Law. Non-EU family members of a permanent permit holder also need a permanent permit to join as dependants. EU citizens qualify if they are ordinary residents and work in Cyprus or hold permanent residence, which is where the yellow slip comes in.

Whether your temporary residence and work permit gives you equal treatment is decided under that law, so ask the HIO about your own permit category before you rely on GESY cover.

1. Be registered with the authorities. The HIO requires registration in the Civil Registry and Migration Department records and, for non-Cypriots, a valid residence permit. It may ask for more evidence.
2. Create a Beneficiary Portal account on the HIO website, activate it and complete the online enrolment. If the system cannot identify you, you print the request and post it with supporting documents.
3. Or enrol at a personal doctor's surgery. A personal doctor can submit the enrolment for you during a visit.
4. Register with a personal doctor. Adults over 18 register with a personal doctor for adults. You and the doctor sign a Form of Mutual Acceptance at your first visit.

You can change personal doctor once six months have passed since you registered.

The Tax Department lists the current GESY contribution rates: 2.65% of employee earnings, 2.90% withheld from employers, 4% of self-employed profits, and 2.65% on pensions and on interest, rent and dividends. Contributions apply to income up to €180,000 a year. Your employer deducts the employee share through payroll, so check it on your payslip.

• Name or nationality errors. If your Migration Department record has numbers or symbols in your name, or nationality shown as unknown, the HIO says you must use the paper enrolment request.
• Expired permits. Enrolment depends on a valid residence permit, so renew in good time.
• Assuming cover from day one. Contributions start with your pay, but access depends on enrolment and a personal doctor, so complete both early.

Professionally, you still need registration with the Cyprus Medical Council or the Cyprus Nursing and Midwifery Council before you can practise.