Your Health in Cyprus: Avoid Unnecessary Costs and Get Your Medication on Time
At Caritas Cyprus, we often see people face unnecessary costs and delays because their medical card has expired or because they don’t know how to get their prescribed medicine. Here’s what you need to know to save money, avoid stress, and make sure you get the treatment you need.
1. Renewing Your Medical Card on Time
Your medical card is essential for accessing free or reduced-cost healthcare in Cyprus.
- When to renew: Two weeks before it expires, go to the Ministry of Health to renew it.
- Why it’s important: Without a valid medical card or a Confirmation Letter, you will need to pay around €30 for a doctor’s visit and up to €350 for tests.
2. Getting Your Prescribed Medication
When a doctor prescribes you medicine, follow these steps:
- Check availability
- Ask your doctor to call the hospital pharmacy to see if the medication is in stock.
- If available
- You can pick it up free of charge with your hospital prescription.
- If not available right now
- Option A: Ask the doctor for an alternative medicine that is available.
- Option B: If no alternative exists, you will need to buy it from a private pharmacy.
- If not available and won’t arrive soon
- Ask the pharmacy when it might be available.
- If they say never, buy it from a private pharmacy.
💡 Note: Vitamins are often not stocked in hospital pharmacies.
3. How to Get to the Hospitals
From Solomos Square to Nicosia General Hospital: Bus 3, 4, or 26
From Solomos Square to Makarios Hospital: Bus 26