Registration with General Health Care System of Cyprus
The General Health Care System of Cyprus otherwise known as GHS or ΓΕΣΥ covers a comprehensive package of healthcare services for the equal and equitable treatment of all citizens that are eligible to register under the platform.
For EU citizens residing in Cyprus:
- Reside in the areas that are controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
- Being employed (registered with the Social Insurances) or having acquired permanent residence status.
- Being a member of the family of a beneficiary.
- Being insured in another EU Member State.
Third Country Nationals:
- Reside in the areas that are controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
- Being employed (registered with the Social Insurances) or having acquired permanent residence status.
- Someone who has been granted refugee or supplementary protection status.
- Being a member of the family of a beneficiary.
- Being insured in another EU Member State.
The Enrolment Process
1 – Online Enrolment
- Via the Beneficiary Portal
- The Beneficiary must firstly create an Account via the HIO Website and activate the account.
- Once connected to the Portal, a set of instructions in to be followed.
- The enrolment process requires specific fields to be filed in for identification purposes (e.g., Address, Telephone Number etc.)
In case the beneficiary cannot be identified with the Registries, they are asked to submit an online beneficiary registration request, that must be printed and send it by post to the Health Insurance Organisation with all required certificates and evidence. Persons who do not have access to the internet can enrol with the help of third-party beneficiaries who have an account in the Portal provided that the procedure is done with the consent of the interested party.
2- Enrolment by visit to a Personal Doctor
Beneficiaries who do not have access to the internet can complete their enrolment by visiting a Personal Doctor of their choice. During such a visit the application of enrolment is then completed, and the Doctor will file the application in the Beneficiary Record. During the said visit the beneficiary can also complete their registration in the Personal Doctors List which is a subsequent procedure that follows upon successful registration.
Personal Doctors List
Beneficiaries who apply for registration in a Personal Doctors List:
- Beneficiaries under the age of fifteen (15) are registered in the list for children. Between the ages of fifteen (15) and eighteen (18) are either registered as children or adults.
- Beneficiaries who are above the age of eighteen (18) are registered as adults.
- Beneficiaries over the age of sixty-five (65) can be registered in the list of a personal Doctor as adults or to a personal Doctor who specialises in geriatrics.
There are two different ways to register with a Personal Doctor
- Online via the Beneficiary Portal: The applicant must send an online request to be registered in the list of a Personal Doctor of their choice whom they can find online (extensive lists exist through the HIO Website, Beneficiary Portal, or printed directories at announced places). If the Personal Doctor accepts the applicants request, they are then notified by email and/or through the Beneficiary Portal). Finally, a meeting is set up for the registration to be completed where a Form of Mutual Acceptance is signed which the Doctor sends to the HIO.
- By visiting a Personal Doctor: Beneficiaries who are already enrolled in the Beneficiary Registry can visit a Personal Doctor they wish to be registered with. The Personal Doctor then searches for the beneficiary through the Beneficiary Registry for identification purposes. Once identified the Mutual Acceptance Form is signed and a letter is sent to the HIO by the Doctor. Upon request and given that an email was provided through the Beneficiary Record a unique number is sent whereby the beneficiary can access their Beneficiary Record.