General Health System (Cyprus)

GeSY (Greek: Γενικό Σύστημα Υγείας (ΓεΣΥ), Genikó Sýstima Ygeías, English: General Healthcare System, GHS[1]) is the universal health insurance system of Cyprus established in 2017 when three government bills and regulations were agreed by parliament after prolonged negotiation led by health minister Yiorgos Pamboridis.[2]

In November 2022 the Cyprus Association of Research and Development Pharmaceutical Companies organised a conference entitled A New Era for Health Care in Cyprus: Embrace, Evaluate, Evolve to review the steps and achievements in the three years since the introduction of GESY.[3]

The running of these service is in the hands of the Health Insurance Organisation.

Costs

From 1 March 2019 the scheme will cover out-of-hospital care. Employees and pensioners, income-earners will have to contribute 1.7% of their income, employers 1.85%, the state 1.65%, and self-employed people 2.55%. From 1 March 2020 it will include hospital care, and contributions will rise to 2.65% for employees, 2.9% for employers, 4.7% from the state , and 4% for the self-employed. There are co-payments which are capped at €300 per year for patients and €75 per year for low-pension earners and recipients of Guaranteed Minimum Income.[4]

References

1. "What are the main features of the GHS?". ΓεΣΥ. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
2. "Health system bills unanimously approved, 'historic day'". Cyprus Mail. 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 18 June 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
3. "A New Era for Health Care in Cyprus: Embrace, Evaluate, Evolve Conference". Gold News. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
4. "The cost of Gesy – what you will have to pay". Andreas Demetriades & Co LLC. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.