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Medicines in Cyprus: GESY prescriptions and cheaper equivalents

With a GESY prescription the cheapest product in its group costs €1. A dearer one costs the difference, but the pharmacy can switch it to a generic if you agree.

Health in Cyprus Checked: no change to the rule has been established since the check

  • €1per medicine, if it is the cheapest in its group
  • €150annual co-payment cap
  • 6 monthsto present a prescription at the pharmacy

In short

Who it applies to
Anyone buying medicines in Cyprus: GESY members with a prescription and people paying themselves. Over-the-counter medicines and products outside the GESY catalogue cost the normal pharmacy price, within the state price list.
What it costs
€1 per medicine if it is the cheapest product in its group in the GESY catalogue. For a dearer product you also pay the price difference — Συνεισφορά ΙΙ. The co-payment cap is €150 a year, or €75 for under-21s and some other groups; the price difference is paid on top of the co-payment.
How long it takes
You can present a prescription within 6 months of its date; controlled medicines have separate rules. Long-term medicines go on a repeat prescription: dispensed monthly, valid for up to 6 months, with no new doctor’s visit.
Where to apply
Any pharmacy with a GESY contract accepts a GESY prescription — the choice is yours. It is issued by a GESY-contracted personal doctor, specialist or dentist. Your active prescriptions are visible in the GESY system. Catalogue questions: 17000.
If your case differs
GESY pays only for prescription medicines in its catalogue. Some are subject to protocols, prescribing by particular specialists or prior approval by ΟΑΥ. The price differences usually change once a year, in February, along with prices.

Your case

You were prescribed the cheapest product in its group

GESY fully covers this product and you pay only the €1 co-payment. At least one product in every catalogue group is fully covered.

The prescription names a dearer product

You pay the co-payment plus the price difference — Συνεισφορά ΙΙ. To avoid it, ask the pharmacy for a fully covered equivalent (γενόσημο) with the same active substance: you have that right even if the prescription names another product. The pharmacy does not switch a product without your consent or request. Biologics and biosimilars are a separate category and are not generics: ask your doctor about changing them.

The pharmacy does not have the product

The pharmacy must order it from a supplier or, if that is impossible and its software allows it, refer you to a pharmacy that has it. If no supplier has it, the pharmacist tells you and the prescribing doctor so that an alternative can be found.

You are not in GESY, or the medicine is over the counter or outside the catalogue

You pay the full price. A pharmacy may not charge more than the maximum retail price in the Ministry of Health price list, published by the Pharmaceutical Services. A prescription medicine still requires a prescription outside GESY.

Deadlines and conditions

  • the co-payment is €1 per medicineΟΑΥ notice of 15.01.2025: «Συμπληρωμή ύψους €1 ανά φάρμακο».
  • the co-payment cap is €150 a yearΟΑΥ “Χρηματοδότηση” page: annual co-payment maximum €150.
  • the cap for under-21s is €75Same page: €75 for ΕΕΕ recipients, low pensions and under-21s.
  • a prescription must be presented within 6 monthsCap. 254, s. 32(1)(γ): no later than «έξι (6) μήνες από την ημερομηνία σύνταξης»; controlled medicines have their own rules.
  • a repeat prescription lasts up to 6 monthsΟΑΥ, “Pharmacies — Access”: repeat prescriptions are dispensed monthly and valid for a maximum of six months.

A prescription from another country

We did not find a verified rule on how Cypriot pharmacies treat foreign prescriptions. Show the prescription to the pharmacist before buying and check GESY coverage on 17000.

Sources

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