Seven years of GESY: access to healthcare has grown, but the system faces new challenges

On June 1, Cyprus’ General Health System (GESY) will mark seven years since its launch. Over this time, the system has significantly expanded residents’ access to medical care, but it still faces serious challenges related to disease prevention, treatment waiting times and support for patients who need ongoing care.

Before GESY was introduced in 2019, many people in Cyprus faced not only illness, but also the need to pay out of pocket for specialist consultations, examinations, treatment and hospitalization. Today, patients can receive medical services, medicines and inpatient care through a single system without significant personal expenses.

However, as experts note, the main measure of GESY’s effectiveness is not the number of services provided, but its ability to prevent disease. Despite the availability of preventive programs and coverage for basic tests, public participation remains relatively low. In 2024, only about 22% of women eligible for Pap smear screening underwent the examination, while about one third of patients used preventive dental checkups.

Another problem remains the long waiting times for appointments with some specialists. In some cases, appointments with endocrinologists and other specialist doctors are booked many months in advance, causing concern among patients and medical organizations.

Particular attention is given to people with chronic illnesses, disabilities and children with special needs. Representatives of patient organizations note that the amount of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other specialized services provided for under the system is often insufficient to meet real needs. As a result, some patients are forced to seek paid care.

Despite the existing difficulties, GESY remains one of the largest social reforms in Cyprus’ history. Experts agree that the next stage in the system’s development should be to improve the effectiveness of prevention, reduce queues for specialists and strengthen support for patients who require long-term medical follow-up.