Gesy Approves 932 Overseas Treatment Requests in First Year Under HIO
The Health Insurance Organisation approved 932 out of 1,304 requests for Gesy patients to seek medical care abroad during its first year managing the process.
Since taking over responsibility for overseas medical referrals, the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) has given the green light to 932 out of 1,304 applications from Gesy beneficiaries, as reported by Cyprus Mail. The majority of patients were sent to hospitals in Germany (28.4 per cent), followed by Greece at 21.2 per cent, the United Kingdom at 18.5 per cent and Israel at 11.7 per cent.
Between October 2025 and the present, 24 cases were deemed life-threatening and 86 were classified as emergencies. The HIO also coordinated 101 medical air transfers to European nations and Israel, with 23 of those being life-threatening situations, 30 emergencies and 48 non-urgent.
Waiting periods varied significantly depending on urgency: an average of 1.5 days for life-threatening cases, five days for emergencies and 22 days for non-urgent patients. The conditions most frequently requiring treatment overseas included haematology, oncology, paediatrics, orthopaedics and ophthalmology.
What it means for residents
For Gesy members facing conditions that cannot be treated locally within a reasonable timeframe, the referral pathway is functioning but remains selective — roughly seven in ten requests were approved last year. If you or a family member need care abroad, understanding the urgency classification is key, as it determines how quickly arrangements are made.
- Check eligibility first — only services included in the Gesy benefits package but unavailable in Cyprus within the required time can be referred abroad.
- Urgency matters — life-threatening cases move within about two days, so ensure your treating physician documents severity clearly.
- Prepare for paperwork — non-urgent referrals average three weeks to process, so plan accordingly if your condition allows.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
