How to Apply for GESY (General Healthcare System)
GESY is Cyprus’s national healthcare system, providing access to medical services for all registered residents. If you have a residence permit, you are eligible to apply. Here’s how you can register and start using GESY’s services.
Step 1: Prepare for Registration
Before registering, ensure you have the following details:
- Alien Registration Certificate (ARC)
- Date of birth
- Exact address
- Email address
- Emergency contact details (spouse or close friend’s name and phone number)
Step 2: Register Online
Go to www.gesy.org.cy and register as a beneficiary. Follow the step-by-step guide available here.
Once registered, you will receive confirmation that your application has been processed.
Step 3: Choose a Personal Doctor (GP)
After registering, you need to select a personal doctor (General Practitioner) for yourself and each family member.
Where can you find a Personal Doctor?
- Government medical centres
- Private hospitals
- Doctors with private practices registered in GESY
Your personal doctor will be your first point of contact for medical care. They will decide if you need to see a specialist or undergo medical tests.
Step 4: Understanding GESY Fees
While some services are free, others have small fees:
- Visits to your personal doctor → Free
- Visits to a specialist → €6 per visit
- X-rays → €10
- Blood tests and medications → Costs vary
You can collect prescribed medication from any GESY-registered pharmacy.
Step 5: Understanding how GESY works
Any time you have a health issue, you need to contact your Personal Doctor. He is your first point of contact. If you require a follow-up visit by a specialist, the Personal Doctor will give you a referral. You can then make an appointment with a specialist of your choice as long as he is registered in GESY. You cannot book an appointment with a specialist direct, without a referral from the Personal Doctor. The only exception are gynecologists – with gynecologists you can book an appointment directly.
The only specialists who are not in GESY are dentists. However, GESY covers the cost of cleaning of teeth once a year. You can ask any dentist to provide this service to you.
For any other services you need from the dentist, you need a medical card 05 type (see how to get it in our blog Medical Card Type 05). With a medical card type 05 and 6 euros, you can see dentists in state medical centres only. Note that appointments there are not quick. If you cannot wait, you will need to go to a private dentist and pay a full price.
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