This year marks seven years since the start of the implementation of the General Health System (GHS) in Cyprus.
On the occasion of the seven-year anniversary, the General Manager of the Health Insurance Organization (HIO), Ms. Ifigenia Kammitsi, states that "seven years after the implementation of the GHS, the System is now maturing and stabilizing. In this new phase, the priority of the Organization is its substantial and targeted development, with an emphasis on upgrading the quality and added value of the services received by the citizen. In this context, the Organization proceeds to a systematic evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of the System with the aim of identifying weaknesses and implementing the necessary corrective interventions, while paying particular attention to the utilization of available resources in a way that offers real benefit to public health. At the same time, the Organization continues to seek the integration of new services and providers based on their effectiveness and real benefit, as well as the continuous improvement of existing services. Guided by experience, available data and the real needs of beneficiaries and providers, the Organization works to ensure that the GHS is constantly evolving to meet modern requirements and offer quality, reliable and human-centred care to all."
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the HIO, Stavros Michael, states that "the GHS has now been established as one of the most important social achievements of our country and as a reform that substantially transformed the health sector in Cyprus". "The new phase in which the System is entering requires collective responsibility, consistency and constant adaptation to new needs and challenges. The Health Insurance Organization remains firmly committed to safeguarding the resilience and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the GHS. At the same time, its strategic goal remains to enhance the quality of the services provided, so that they essentially meet the real needs of citizens and to ensure equal access to quality health care services for all, without discrimination."
The GHS in numbers
During the seventh year of operation of the GHS, the registered beneficiaries reached 1,036,681. The wide use of the System's services is reflected as follows:
839,955 beneficiaries have visited their Personal Doctors
676,458 beneficiaries have visited the Specialist Doctors
335,380 beneficiaries have visited Radiology / Diagnostic Centers
541,456 beneficiaries have undergone Laboratory Tests
356,028 beneficiaries have visited Dentists
726,044 beneficiaries have received medicines and/or medical devices from a pharmacy
More than 900 requests for sending beneficiaries abroad were evaluated, of which more than 450 receive or have already received health care services abroad
More than 90,000 operations were performed.
In addition to visits, prescriptions, examinations and surgical procedures, during the 7th year of the GHS's life, substantial steps and actions were taken at the same time to expand and enrich services, upgrade quality, ensure financial sustainability, strengthen control mechanisms and the organizational and operational adequacy of the Organization.
In detail below: Expansion and enrichment of services provided
The GHS was further strengthened by the inclusion of new providers and the expansion of existing services, including:
Inclusion of 120 new innovative medicines and 105 other innovative treatments (whether they were included in the GHS or their protocols were revised in order to cover more diseases or categories of patients).
Processing of 16,316 pre-approval requests for the administration of innovative medicines on the basis of protocols and 6,077 pre-approval requests for the provision of inpatient medical devices.
Evaluation of 4,400 requests for nominal drugs, of which 2,005 were for initiation of treatment while 216 of them were for emergencies.
Inclusion of 230 innovative or equivalent medical devices and inpatient health care health care items in the GHS lists.
Inclusion of 1 new hospital.
Assumption of the responsibility of sending beneficiaries abroad to receive health care services.
Implementation of the reimbursement procedure for GHS beneficiaries for cross-border healthcare.
Enrichment of targeted coverage for services of other health professionals (such as implementation of a registry of rheumatic patients for differentiated coverage of physiotherapy services as well as enrichment of physiotherapy coverage after surgeries and fractures).
Intensive consultations for the full integration of occupational therapy services as well as for the inclusion of counselling psychologists in the GHS.
Actions to upgrade quality
Further enhancing the quality of health services is a top priority for the Organization. Specifically:
The link between providers' remuneration and the quality of services has been extended to more categories of services, on the basis of quality criteria and performance indicators.
The adaptation and implementation of two additional Clinical Guidelines (CSRs) has been completed, which concern (a) blood pressure and hypertension and (b) osteoarthritis, as well as the corresponding quality indicators (QAs).
The operation of chronic patient registries has been strengthened and expanded, with the aim of improving the management and monitoring of specific categories of chronic patients, as well as providing special access and/or monitoring arrangements within the System, with the most recent being the inclusion of the Multiple Sclerosis patient registry.
The Information System (IT) was upgraded to better serve the beneficiaries, with additions of information to the medical profile, such as the ability to register a blood group.
Added the identification barcode for prescription execution in the Beneficiary Portal.
The provision of service to any interested party who contacts the Organization continued, as well as the timely management of questions and complaints. Reports and complaints are leveraged as an important tool for identifying operational weaknesses and continuous improvement.
Ensuring the financial sustainability of the GHS
The 4th actuarial study of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which confirms the viability of the GHS Fund until 2033, has been completed.
At the same time, based on the unaudited financial statements for 2025, the reserve of the HIO Fund amounted to €787 million, covering expenses of approximately 4.8 months, a level significantly higher than international best practices, which amounts to 3 months' expenses.
The Agency monitors on a monthly basis the course of the Fund's expenditures and revenues, constantly expanding controls to effectively address abuse or other distortions.
Enhanced control and supervision of providers and beneficiaries
The Agency implements continuously strengthened control and supervision mechanisms, with the aim of effectively implementing the institutional framework, preventing abuses and rationally utilizing the System's resources.
The adaptation and implementation of two additional Clinical Guidelines (CSRs) has been completed, which concern (a) blood pressure and hypertension and (b) osteoarthritis, as well as the corresponding quality indicators (QAs).
The operation of chronic patient registries has been strengthened and expanded, with the aim of improving the management and monitoring of specific categories of chronic patients, as well as providing special access and/or monitoring arrangements within the System, with the most recent being the inclusion of the Multiple Sclerosis patient registry.
The Information System (IT) was upgraded to better serve the beneficiaries, with additions of information to the medical profile, such as the ability to register a blood group.
Added the identification barcode for prescription execution in the Beneficiary Portal.
The provision of service to any interested party who contacts the Organization continued, as well as the timely management of questions and complaints. Reports and complaints are leveraged as an important tool for identifying operational weaknesses and continuous improvement.
Ensuring the financial sustainability of the GHS
The 4th actuarial study of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which confirms the viability of the GHS Fund until 2033, has been completed.
At the same time, based on the unaudited financial statements for 2025, the reserve of the HIO Fund amounted to €787 million, covering expenses of approximately 4.8 months, a level significantly higher than international best practices, which amounts to 3 months' expenses.
The Agency monitors on a monthly basis the course of the Fund's expenditures and revenues, constantly expanding controls to effectively address abuse or other distortions.
Enhanced control and supervision of providers and beneficiaries
The Agency implements continuously strengthened control and supervision mechanisms, with the aim of effectively implementing the institutional framework, preventing abuses and rationally utilizing the System's resources.
Suspension and/or termination of 2 provider contracts, which resulted from investigations.
Suspension and/or termination of 29 contracts due to non-compliance with their contractual obligations.
Approximately 850,000 claims audits were carried out, corresponding to €180 million, and through the audits, problems were identified in claims amounting to €19 million, which were recovered through offsets and adjustments.
The GHS system itself prevented the submission of 2.2 million incorrect claims with a total value of more than €200 million, automatically detecting errors before compensation was paid.
In 46 cases, fines totalling €200,000 were imposed, while 1 case was referred to the Police.
A mechanism for controlling admissions through on-site inspections was implemented in almost all GHS hospitals, during which 4,000 inpatient cases were checked, where it was assessed whether admission was prima facie necessary or not.
Suspension and/or termination of 29 contracts due to non-compliance with their contractual obligations.
Approximately 850,000 claims audits were carried out, corresponding to €180 million, and through the audits, problems were identified in claims amounting to €19 million, which were recovered through offsets and adjustments.
The GHS system itself prevented the submission of 2.2 million incorrect claims with a total value of more than €200 million, automatically detecting errors before compensation was paid.
In 46 cases, fines totalling €200,000 were imposed, while 1 case was referred to the Police.
A mechanism for controlling admissions through on-site inspections was implemented in almost all GHS hospitals, during which 4,000 inpatient cases were checked, where it was assessed whether admission was prima facie necessary or not.
Organizational and functional adequacy of the organization and other actions
Implementation of advanced data analytics tools to detect abuses.
Undertaking the management and coordination of the Information System and the business procedures of the GHS by the Organization.
Continuous monitoring and management of drug sufficiency and shortages.
Implementation of information and empowerment campaigns for beneficiaries and providers.
Implementation of actions and actions related to the effective management of the participation of inpatient and pharmaceutical health care providers in the GHS.
Strengthening of the governance framework of the Organization and completion of the procedures for filling 75 new and vacant positions of officers and assistant secretarial officers with the aim of organizational and operational strengthening of the Organization.
Overall assessment by the HIO
As the Organization notes, "the health sector is not a static environment, but a dynamic and ever-changing space, which is influenced by scientific developments, demographic changes, technological innovations and the ever-evolving needs of beneficiaries. Therefore, the continuous adaptation, upgrading and evolution of health systems is a necessary condition for maintaining their effectiveness and quality."
Within its seven years of operation, it is added, the GHS has proven in practice its ability to respond to new challenges and requirements, constantly evolving through targeted interventions, innovative policies and substantial improvements for the benefit of beneficiaries.
"Continuing its steady evolutionary course, the GHS remains committed to the fundamental principles of universality, equality and social solidarity. The vision of the Health Insurance Organization is to maintain the GHS as a modern, strong and reliable Health System for today's society and future generations," he concludes.
Undertaking the management and coordination of the Information System and the business procedures of the GHS by the Organization.
Continuous monitoring and management of drug sufficiency and shortages.
Implementation of information and empowerment campaigns for beneficiaries and providers.
Implementation of actions and actions related to the effective management of the participation of inpatient and pharmaceutical health care providers in the GHS.
Strengthening of the governance framework of the Organization and completion of the procedures for filling 75 new and vacant positions of officers and assistant secretarial officers with the aim of organizational and operational strengthening of the Organization.
Overall assessment by the HIO
As the Organization notes, "the health sector is not a static environment, but a dynamic and ever-changing space, which is influenced by scientific developments, demographic changes, technological innovations and the ever-evolving needs of beneficiaries. Therefore, the continuous adaptation, upgrading and evolution of health systems is a necessary condition for maintaining their effectiveness and quality."
Within its seven years of operation, it is added, the GHS has proven in practice its ability to respond to new challenges and requirements, constantly evolving through targeted interventions, innovative policies and substantial improvements for the benefit of beneficiaries.
"Continuing its steady evolutionary course, the GHS remains committed to the fundamental principles of universality, equality and social solidarity. The vision of the Health Insurance Organization is to maintain the GHS as a modern, strong and reliable Health System for today's society and future generations," he concludes.
