Filenews 17 July 2024 - by Marilena Panayi
The procedures have started and Cyprus is just one step away from its electronic integration into the European cross-border portal for the exchange of medical data.
At present, the training of doctors in Cyprus on how to register the medical history of their patients and their prescriptions in the data portal has begun and it is estimated that in early 2025 Cypriot citizens will be able to access their data at any time and in any EU country. provided that that country also participates in the cross-border medical data exchange portal.
"The seminars are the first step for the development of cross-border health services in Cyprus, since Cyprus is the 12th EU country that has promoted the procedures to connect to the network for the exchange of cross-border health services, thus fulfilling the relevant goal for the European Health Union," Andreas Christodoulou, representative of the Federation of Cyprus Patients' Associations on the board of directors of the National eHealth Authority, told F.
"The seminars, aimed at doctors in the first phase, will focus first on e-prescription, patient summaries and electronic prescription dispensing abroad." In this way and when the system is implemented, "every citizen will be able to be easily recognized by providers abroad and will be able to be informed about which providers (doctors' offices, pharmacies, etc.) in EU countries are available to serve him through the cross-border health portal. Let us say that these providers will also be recognized with the sign "My Health @ EU" which must be visible on their premises."
In practice, this means that the Cypriot – European citizen, when his doctor in Cyprus has registered his prescriptions in the cross-border health portal, "will have the possibility, if he is in another EU country participating in the program, to execute without problem his prescription through a pharmacist who is also connected to the electronic platform".
"It is estimated that by the beginning of 2025, the citizen through the government portal of the Republic of Cyprus "GOV.CY" will have direct access to the specific medical data which will now begin to be registered and will be able to use them until the completion of the Integrated Electronic Citizen's Health Record (OIFYP)."
