Cyprus Mail 30 May 2019 - article by Evie Andreou
Referrals to specialist doctors in public hospitals scheduled between June 1 and August 31, 2019 will be carried out as already arranged
The health ministry on Wednesday issued guidelines concerning services from public hospitals after June 1 when the first phase of the National Health Scheme (Gesy) will kick in.
Hospital cards will continue to apply after June 1 for inpatient care in public hospitals as Gesy’s first phase only covers outpatient care.
Beneficiaries whose cards have expired may have them renewed at the Citizen Service Centres (KEP) in all districts.
Referrals to specialist doctors in public hospitals and health centres scheduled between June 1 and August 31, 2019 will be carried out as already arranged.
For appointments scheduled to take place after September 1, 2019, patients should visit the general practitioner of their choice to obtain a new referral.
Pharmacies in public hospitals and health centres will continue to serve patients under the existing regime for the transition period between June 1 to August 31, 2019.
From September 1 onwards, state pharmacies will no longer offer services to outpatient patients, and the public will be able to obtain their medication from any Gesy pharmacy.
The public pharmacies in the rural areas of Salamiou, Pedoulas, Fyti, Omodos, Panayia, Kato Pyrgos, Avdimou, Lefkara, Platres, Pahna, Palehori, Agros, Evrychou, Kofinou and Kyperounda will remain in operation since there is no private pharmacy there.
Pharmacies at the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics will continue to operate as normal for the treatment of their patients.
After September 1, 2019, prescriptions for outpatient patients for specialised drugs such as medicines for Aids patients, medications for the treatment of haemophilia that require special care and storage and expensive medicines will be filled at the pharmacies of the state health services organisation (Okypy).
As of June 1, all Gesy beneficiaries are automatically eligible for a European Health Card. Although inpatient care is part of the second phase of Gesy which will be implemented in June 2020, Cypriot citizens will be able to receive both out-of-hospital and in-hospital health services when visiting other EU member states when and if they need treatment during their stay.
The Citizen Service Centres will issue European Health Cards.
