in-cyprus 5 November 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
The Health Insurance Organisation is ending unnecessary queues at state pharmacies for vitamins and other non-prescription medicines, with procedures nearly complete to transfer these products to private pharmacies.
The HIO said the gradual transfer of non-prescription medicines from hospital pharmacies to private ones will begin within the next two weeks, starting with eight specific products.
The Federation of Patient Associations of Cyprus (CyFPA/OSAK) had voiced patient frustration in recent weeks over delays implementing a decision the HIO made months ago following an agreement with the Pan-Cyprian Pharmaceutical Association.
The medicines are provided through the General Healthcare System as exceptions to specific patient categories who receive them as part of their treatment.
According to complaints from the federation, hundreds of chronic patients are forced to crowd into queues at hospital pharmacies each month to collect products they could obtain without hassle from their neighbourhood pharmacy.
Beyond the first eight products transferring to private pharmacies, the HIO’s relevant department has set procedures in motion to transfer all non-prescription medicines in the coming period.
The HIO said transferring all products in this category to private pharmacies simultaneously is not possible due to issues concerning medicine suppliers and contracts currently in force.
With new tender announcements and document revisions, medicines will transfer to private pharmacies for patients to collect. The HIO will announce the procedure through which patients can obtain their medicines from neighbourhood pharmacies at a later stage.
Meanwhile, after more than two years, the HIO has also advanced procedures to grant two-month supplies of specialised medicines that seriously ill patients also obtain from hospital or state pharmacies.
The organisation said it expects responses within days from the health ministry and Marketing Authorisation Holders to proceed with implementing this arrangement for 28 pharmaceutical products.
For now, two-month supplies are granted only to two specific patient groups – rheumatology and gastroenterology patients – for specific medicines. This arrangement has been in force for the past year.
The HIO was not in a position to give a timeline for implementing the two-month prescription for all chronic patients on this issue.
According to the HIO, the eight products transferring first are those where the representative does not have private sales. The remaining products, where representatives have private sales, will transfer gradually with changes to documents for new tenders that will provide for distribution to private pharmacies.
The reason for applying a different procedure is that when private sales exist, pharmacies cannot order from two different warehouses and maintain separate stock for the same product, preventing control and assurance of adequate quantities for General Healthcare System beneficiaries.
