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General Healthcare System - Second And Final Stage Of GHS Implementation

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We would like to remind you that the collection of the contributions for the second and final stage will start on March 1st, 2020 and will include the complete implementation of the GHS.

*Contribution for employees will increase to 2.65% and for employers to 2.90%

 

The General Healthcare System (GHS) is modern, patient-centric healthcare system with the aim of delivering quality healthcare services to the Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and Permanent residents of the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.  

 

The main features of the system are:

  • Universal coverage of the population
  • Equal and equitable treatment of all beneficiaries
  • Provision of a comprehensive package of healthcare services
  • Freedom of choice of provider by the beneficiaries
  • Social reciprocity

For the implementation of the GHS, a special fund was established for purposes of gathering the relevant contributions, and from which all payments to providers of healthcare services will be made. The GHS fund will be administered by the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO). 

 

When will the GHS be implemented?

According to the provisions of The General Healthcare System (Amending) Law of 2017, that the GHS shall be implemented in two stages.  

The first stage of GHS implementation, has already started on June 1st 2019, which provides for the introduction of outpatient healthcare, i.e. the provision of healthcare services by personal doctors and outpatient specialists, pharmacists and laboratories.

The second and final stage of GHS implementation, beginning June 1st, 2020, includes introduction of all the remaining healthcare services, i.e. inpatient healthcare and services, services offered by allied health professionals (clinical dieticians, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, physiotherapists, and clinical psychologists), nurses and midwifes, the accident and emergency departments, ambulance services, dentists, palliative healthcare services and medical rehabilitation services.

 

Who is paying for this?

The main GHS source of financing is contributions.  The payment of the contributions for the first phase has already started on 1 March 2019 and full implementation will follow on 1 March 2020.

 

The Contributors’ Categories are:

  • Employees
  • Employers
  • State
  • Self-employed
  • Pensioners
  • Income-earners
  • Government Officials
  • Persons responsible for the payment of remuneration to Government Officials 

The contribution rates for each category of contributors as they have been set by the General Healthcare System (Amending) Law of 2017 are the following:

 

 

For every natural person, the total maximum annual amount on which contributions will be paid is €180,000.

 

In case that the natural person is not a tax resident of Cyprus, he/she will pay contributions only for the income, earnings and pensions that derive from the Republic of Cyprus, excluding dividends and interest.

For more information you can visit the official site which is available both in English and Greek language.

 

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