If you are hospitalised

We aim to contact British nationals within 24 hours of being told they have been admitted to hospital.

We don’t usually contact or visit people who have travelled specifically for medical treatment.

If you are in hospital as a result of an assault or other crime, we will visit you as soon as possible.

How you are

In all other cases, we will take account of factors such as your condition, your ability to speak on the phone, whether you have relatives or friends with you, whether you have a tour company representative and the standard of medical facilities, before deciding whether a visit is appropriate.

If we decide it is, and there is a British embassy in the same city as the hospital which you are in, we aim to visit you within 48 hours of being told that you have gone into hospital.

Contacting your family

We can also contact your family or friends in the UK to tell them that you are in hospital if you want us to.

If asked, we can help you to liaise with your insurance company or medical evacuation company. Remember to keep any receipts or doctors’ notes in case you need them to make a claim. We may also be able to help you communicate with hospital staff if they do not speak English.

If you have a mental illness

Facilities for dealing with mental illness vary widely around the world. In some countries there are not enough resources, in others expensive privately-run clinics are the only real option and, in some places, people with mental illness may be detained by the police instead of being admitted to hospital.

If you are mentally ill and want our help, we will do our best to make sure you receive it, wherever you are. But we cannot provide this help and advice ourselves.

Medication

If you have run out of a prescribed medication we can give you information on getting supplies locally. You should be aware, however, that in some countries your medication might be banned or unavailable.

If necessary, we can help local medical staff contact medical staff, friends or family in the UK who may be able to advise on your medical history and who may be the most appropriate people to offer continued support if you return to the UK.

Paying for treatment

You may find that your insurance policy does not cover mental illness, or is not valid because you did not declare a pre-existing condition. In these cases, you or your family must expect to pay for any treatment.

Information on public and private health services in Cyprus

In an emergency, call 112 to request an ambulance.

Health service standards compare favourably with those of other developed countries. There are new general hospitals in all districts and many private clinics, which are listed in local telephone directories.

State Hospitals in the Republic of Cyprus – all the hospitals below have Accident and Emergency departments:

Nicosia     + 357 22 603 000
Larnaca    + 357 24 800 500
Limassol   + 357 25 801 100
Paphos     + 357 26 803 100

Further information on public healthcare in Cyprus can be obtained from the Ministry of Health’s website at www.moh.gov.cy or by calling + 357 22 400 128.

Paying for your treatment

Cyprus does not operate a ‘National Health Service’ as in the UK, and you will not be automatically entitled to free healthcare. Please read the information below and check that you or your friend or relative has obtained the correct documentation.

a) Public Health Sector

Tourists from EU Member States

Tourists can be treated free of charge at a Government Hospital with an EHIC (European Health Insurance) card.  This covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary because of illness or an accident during a visit to Cyprus. The card gives access to state medical treatment only and you will be treated on the same basis as an ‘insured’ person living in the country.

The EHIC should be obtained before leaving the UK. Applications can be made online, by post or by phone.  Please contact:

EHIC Applications
PO Box 1115
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE99 1SW
Tel: (+44) 0845 605 0707
Website: www.dh.gov.uk

Note, however, that the EHIC does not cover the costs of private medical care nor of repatriation, should you need to return to the UK for further treatment. It is strongly recommended that visitors take out adequate travel insurance, including medical cover, before they arrive in Cyprus.

Residents of Cyprus

Residents of Cyprus are not entitled to use an EHIC issued in the UK to cover the costs of state healthcare in Cyprus. Once they have obtained their residency permit, residents should apply through their local state hospital for a medical card. Forms can be downloaded from the Ministry of Health’s website www.moh.gov.cy and further information obtained from the Medical Card Unit on + 357 22 400 177.

Provision of free health care is provided to certain categories of persons, including those on low incomes, and holders of UK forms E121, E123, E109 and E106. Persons not entitled to free health care can pay privately to use the public health service.

Recipients of an UK State pension should obtain form E121 from the International Pension Centre in the UK to prove their eligibility for free public health care in Cyprus. Their contact details are:

The Pension Service
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Benton
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1BA

Tel: (+44) 0191 218 7777
Fax: (+44) 0191 218 7293
Website:   http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/ipc/home.asp 

b) Private Health Sector

There are private hospitals and clinics available to those who can afford to pay for their treatment.  Please ensure that you confirm with your travel insurance company that they will cover private hospital costs should you fall ill.