Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

Another thing to note is that Cyprus is much bigger than Malta. So don't go in the middle of nowhere if you might need emergency hospitalization. Stay close to a city, Nicosia has the best hospitals, and then Limassol. Don't go to Paphos.

[Paphitis]

Hello, I am thinking of moving from Malta to Cyprus. It's not that I have not enjoyed Malta for many years, but after a bad experience with the Health service, both private and public, I am seriously thinking of going to another country.

However, when I have dived into the forums I have been reading that the ambulances are not even driven by paramedics and are normal cars, and there is a sort of private service you have to contract (which some bad information appeared about them which I dont know if it is true or not). I have also read about private clinics scams of bringing unaware tourists and overcharging them huge fees.

What is the real situation of healthcare in Cyprus? are the public hospitals good quality and so recommended? is it better a private one? or if health is important for you, you'd better stay off from Cyprus?

Any info about the matter would be greatly appreciated. Really only health is the point about Cyprus which I am unsure about, as the rest seems quite like Malta.

I wouldn't be going to Cyprus if I were you since Health services are a big consideration for you.

I haven't had a lot of experience, other than my Uncle passing on as a terminal patient in Cyprus whilst I was there. The Health care was ok, but really, it was not the best and quite basic. Better than nothing I suppose, but Cyprus would not have the services available in other European Countries.

It's probably very similar to Malta in many ways.

[Robin Hood]

An anecdote to this thread:

My wife was given a referral for a non-urgent MRI by Neurosurgery at the Nicosia General. When we went to make the appointment four weeks ago, we were told it would be 8-10 months. Monday - we had a phone call from Nicosia General to attend today at 0900 ...... for an MRI!!!!

So we went. Turned up as requested, went to MRI dept. and they did not have her on the list. Plenty of shrugging shoulders but no one seemed to have the seniority to make a decision . When I gave them the telephone number that called on Monday they said it was not a General Hospital number.

So we went to the information desk and showed them! Lots of frowns and Greek chatter...... and then Bingo .... the light's came on. Yes it was a General Hospital number and we were directed to an office 20m away where a lady dug out the file.

The call we received was for us to collect a form, not to have an MRI and get the form signed by the doctor, so that we could get it done privately at number of clinics of our choice. We chose Pahos as we knew the clinic and it was closer than going into Limassol. Now .... getting it signed by the Doctor (actually a Neurosurgeon) was difficult as he has recently been arrested for fraud and is currently 'out of circulation'.

The lady is now out of her depth and asked "Do you know a doctor who can sign?" We are in a hospital full of doctors and she asks ME! I suggested she might like to phone a 'friend' and gave her the number. After a brief telephone exchange she excused herself, left the office and return five minutes later with an acceptable signature and the obligatory stamp.

We left the general drove home and made the appointment for next week. The cost to us ...... nothing. except for the fuel.

As I said in my first post ...... the treatment is OK but the administration needs a lot of work.. Very often the left hand has no clue what the right hand is doing. If they hit a problem ..... they do not seem to know how to deal with it and decisions are only made at the higher levels. If you have access to 'someone' in a management/senior position that comes in very handy. It will be a long time before this side of the service improves. However, if you have plenty of time to spare in Cyprus and have patience ......... anything is possible!

[Tim Drayton]

I think you'll find that it's the British government that stumps up for any treatment that retired British people have in Cyprus.

Apart from that. Whinging pom. Moi?

(The post this was in reply to has disappeared. Strange.)

[Paphitis]

I think you'll find that it's the British government that stumps up for any treatment that retired British people have in Cyprus.

Apart from that. Whinging pom. Moi?

(The post this was in reply to has disappeared. Strange.)

No not you Tim.

I deleted the post because I didn't want to offend too many innocent people just because I am being trolled and personally attacked by another imbecile.

I certainly hope the RoC is able to offer good quality health care for Brits too and hopefully the economy improves so that it can keep doing so and even improve the system.

[Tim Drayton]

You never know. I've never been to Oz, but perhaps if I did I'd start whinging!

[Tim Drayton]

A Brit had almost saved his fare back to the UK but needed another dollar to buy a ticket. He asked an Aussie "Can you give me a dollar to get back to the UK?" The Aussie said "Sure, here's five - take four other whinging Poms back with you."

[Robin Hood]

"Tim Drayton:

I think you'll find that it's the British government that stumps up for any treatment that retired British people have in Cyprus.

Apart from that. Whinging pom. Moi?

(The post this was in reply to has disappeared. Strange.)

Tim: I was trying to explain this to you previously. The UK government does not 'stump up' for treatment in Cyprus for British pensioners! The two countries have reciprocal arrangement that accepts that payment into the social security system in one country is recognised by the other as the equivalent of that individual having paid into the healthcare providers system. If a Cypriot pensioner went to reside in the UK the same would apply. There may be some sort of cash adjustment but it is not on a case-by-case basis.

When I went to the MoH, I too had the impression that the UK paid for my healthcare in Cyprus and thus my treatment here was treated as 'Cross Borger Health Care' but she corrected me and explained how the system works. My wife may go to Athens for treatment that is not available here ..... and it is the Cyprus MoH, not the UK NHS, that foots the bill ..... including travel and accommodation for both carer and patient, depending on your level of income ..... sometimes not having a lot of money has some small benefits.

If you are working here and pay into the Cypriot social security you will be treated under the same terms and conditions as a Cypriot ....... that is covered by EU legislation not by this Cyprus/UK arrangement. That is why things are very unlikely to change if the UK quits the EU. It is the treatment entitlement not the arrangement that comes under the EU legislation.

[Robin Hood]

Paphitis:

No not you Tim.

I deleted the post because I didn't want to offend too many innocent people just because I am being trolled and personally attacked by another imbecile.

I certainly hope the RoC is able to offer good quality health care for Brits too and hopefully the economy improves so that it can keep doing so and even improve the system.

Paphitis, ‘stop whingeing’! If you don’t like being insulted, then don’t insult and verbally abuse others. This post you deleted was obviously another slagging off ............ no doubt with references to ‘whingeing poms’obviously aimed at me?

BTW: I don't do whingeing especially in Cyprus ...... I live here out of choice, the system here has been very fair with me and I have no significant complaints.

The answer is simple .......If you can’t take it .... then don’t dish it out. You want to disagree with me fine ..... I have no problem with that ...... but try to form an intelligent response as if it was formulated and written by an adult..... rather than a stroppy juvenile know-all with delusions of grandeur........... all you do is succeed in making yourself look rather foolish.

I am not trolling you I merely post in response to what I consider a juvenile and unwarranted assault on me personally, because I happen to know more than you about a subject, but you never prove me wrong, you just attack and insult my views without presenting anything tangible to support yours.

[Tim Drayton]

"Tim Drayton:

I think you'll find that it's the British government that stumps up for any treatment that retired British people have in Cyprus.

Apart from that. Whinging pom. Moi?

(The post this was in reply to has disappeared. Strange.)

Tim: I was trying to explain this to you previously. The UK government does not 'stump up' for treatment in Cyprus for British pensioners! The two countries have reciprocal arrangement that accepts that payment into the social security system in one country is recognised by the other as the equivalent of that individual having paid into the healthcare providers system. If a Cypriot pensioner went to reside in the UK the same would apply. There may be some sort of cash adjustment but it is not on a case-by-case basis.

When I went to the MoH, I too had the impression that the UK paid for my healthcare in Cyprus and thus my treatment here was treated as 'Cross Borger Health Care' but she corrected me and explained how the system works. My wife may go to Athens for treatment that is not available here ..... and it is the Cyprus MoH, not the UK NHS, that foots the bill ..... including travel and accommodation for both carer and patient, depending on your level of income ..... sometimes not having a lot of money has some small benefits.

If you are working here and pay into the Cypriot social security you will be treated under the same terms and conditions as a Cypriot ....... that is covered by EU legislation not by this Cyprus/UK arrangement. That is why things are very unlikely to change if the UK quits the EU. It is the treatment entitlement not the arrangement that comes under the EU legislation.

How come my parents, who are British citizens and retired to Cyprus in 1990, DIDN'T qualify for free health care in Cyprus prior to Cyprus' accession to the EU and DID (or at least my mum did but my dad had passed away by then) following Cyprus' accession to the EU?