Healthcare in Cyprus, what to know before you go

Nobody thinks about doctors when planning a holiday, but for Cyprus it’s worth five minutes before you leave. I’ve pulled together the official advice on your GHIC, insurance and hospitals, plus my own take. The wider risks are covered in is Cyprus safe.

Your GHIC or EHIC

Gov.uk says that to get medically necessary state healthcare in Cyprus you need a Global Health Insurance Card or a European Health Insurance Card, and that neither is a substitute for travel insurance. The Spanish foreign ministry adds a warning worth knowing, that the European card isn’t valid in the north of the island.

I’d follow that advice to the letter, especially if you plan to cross north. What changes there is in northern Cyprus.

What your card won’t pay for

Gov.uk makes clear that a GHIC or EHIC doesn’t replace travel insurance and sets out which costs it won’t pay. Among them are rebooking flights or accommodation, extra standard treatment charges, being flown home to the UK, non-urgent treatment and anything at a private clinic. The NHS page on healthcare abroad explains how to apply for a GHIC, what to do for temporary cover if the card goes missing or arrives late, who still qualifies for an EHIC and what counts as medically necessary.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Nicosia before prices climb.

Before you go

Gov.uk asks you to check that Cyprus can provide the healthcare you might need and that your insurance covers local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation, something it stresses for travellers with a health condition and for pregnant women. At least eight weeks before travelling, look at the latest vaccine recommendations on the NHS travel vaccinations page. If you take prescription medicines, read the TravelHealthPro advice on travelling with them, as their legal status can differ abroad. Once there, contact your insurer quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility, and bear in mind the FCDO publishes a list of Cypriot medical providers with some English-speaking staff.

Emergencies and hospitals

Dial 112 for an ambulance, which also reaches fire and police. If things get serious, call the FCDO in London on 020 7008 5000, which answers at any hour.

The Spanish foreign ministry publishes phone numbers for the public hospitals. Nicosia has the General Hospital and Makarios III, and there are general hospitals in Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos, plus Paralimni Hospital in the east. They’re in the table on this page.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Nicosia and choose by the reviews.

Heading north

Your GHIC or EHIC doesn’t work there, according to the Spanish foreign ministry, and there are no Republic public hospitals to use it in. Before crossing, check that your travel insurance covers the northern part of the island too, in the policy wording itself, and keep the insurer’s number to hand. Gov.uk adds that British consular help in the north is limited. The crossing itself is covered in crossing to northern Cyprus.

Vaccinations and summer health

No vaccinations are required to enter Cyprus, unless you arrive from a country with an officially declared epidemic, according to the Spanish foreign ministry. Summer is what to plan for. Droughts can lead to water restrictions and cuts, and heavy air-conditioning use sometimes causes power cuts. Gov.uk adds that the Met service issues heat warnings, especially in summer.

A car frees you from timetables: search car hire in Nicosia on DiscoverCars and compare companies.

If you dive or do sport

If you’re diving or doing anything risky, gov.uk recommends making sure your travel insurance names the activity. It’s an easy detail to miss and an expensive one to forget. The paperwork for your trip is in Cyprus entry requirements.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Nicosia before prices climb.