in-cyprus 12 February 2026 - by Marilena Panayi
Personal doctors (GPs) in the General Healthcare System are pushing back again over a funding system that forces them to pay for vaccines upfront and then wait for reimbursement – with no compensation for their time or risk.
The arrangement hits both adult doctors and paediatricians. Some vaccine prices are so high they put off doctors from participating, especially newer ones with smaller patient lists. Paediatricians face even greater pressure because of the sheer number of jabs they give each year.
Michalis Anastasiades, president of the Cyprus Paediatric Society, told Fileleftheros the issue frustrates many doctors and creates real problems for paediatricians who do most of the vaccinations without any incentive or support.
“Paediatricians are constantly working to keep vaccination coverage in Cyprus at high levels. Vaccines are the state’s responsibility and any coverage should be provided by the Health Ministry,” he said.
“The way we get hold of vaccines makes this harder, and doctors take all the risk and suffer the cost when something goes wrong – a vaccine gets destroyed, whatever. This is an issue we need to revisit with the Health Ministry so we can sort this out.”
Mary Avraamidou, president of the Scientific Society of Family and Personal Doctors, said doctors often pay several thousand euros to stock up on vaccines for their patients, then wait for reimbursement. “If a vaccine is destroyed, the cost stays with the doctor, though some companies cover it,” she said.
Newer doctors with smaller patient lists struggle more because several vaccines cost quite a bit, she added. “A colleague with 300 or 500 patients can’t buy vaccines costing €150 or €180 to cover their patients’ needs and then wait for the total amount to come back.”
Avraamidou said they’ve raised the issue several times because doctors need some incentive to go through this entire process. “We certainly need to talk to the Health Ministry again,” she said.
