Cyprus adds Mounjaro to Gesy cover, but only for restricted patient groups
From October 15, Mounjaro is reimbursed through Gesy for adults with severe obesity or Type 2 diabetes, with specialists alone able to prescribe and state hospital pharmacies dispensing.
Adults in Cyprus with a body mass index of 40 or above, or a BMI between 35 and 40 combined with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, can now seek Mounjaro through Gesy, as reported by Cyprus Mail. Type 2 diabetes patients also fall under the scheme, though approval hinges on documented medical criteria and prior authorisation rather than a simple request.
Initially the drug will be handed out only at state hospital pharmacies, while Ozempic stays available in private pharmacies and is now the preferred option for Type 2 diabetes regardless of a patient's weight. Prescriptions for either medicine are limited to specialists such as endocrinologists, specialist pathologists, geriatricians and designated adult general practitioners, and reimbursement can run for up to two years as long as the criteria keep being met.
Doctors caution that the injections are not a replacement for diet and exercise, and that results vary widely — one 27-year-old man reported losing about 5kg in his first fortnight on Mounjaro, while other patients described fatigue, insomnia or gastrointestinal trouble with little weight change. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort are recognised side effects, and appetite may return once treatment stops.
What it means for residents
For eligible patients this is a real change in what the national health system will pay for, but access is narrow and paperwork-heavy, so anyone hoping to start should plan for a specialist referral and a wait rather than a quick prescription.
- Check your numbers first. A BMI of 40, or 35 with the listed conditions, is the entry ticket — ask your doctor to document it properly before applying.
- Expect state pharmacies only. Mounjaro will not be available at private pharmacies at this stage, so collect it where Gesy tells you.
- Plan beyond two years. Cover is time-limited and tied to criteria, and stopping without a follow-up plan risks regaining the weight.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
