Relief is on the way for chronic patients in Cyprus struggling to access specific over-the-counter medications (OTCs) through the General Healthcare System (GHS).
After months of discussions, the Health Insurance Organisation (HIO) and the Pancyprian Pharmaceutical Association have finally reached an agreement that will streamline access and expand options for patients.
Previously, these OTCs were only available at state pharmacies or required out-of-pocket payments because they weren’t covered for the general population.
Under the new agreement, all existing OTCs currently provided to specific patient groups under GHS will be transferred to private pharmacies, eliminating unnecessary travel and hassle for patients.
Eligible patients will be able to obtain these medications without any hassle, explained Athos Tsinontidis, deputy general director of the HIO, speaking to Phileleftheros.
The agreement goes even further, adding aspirin and vitamin D to the list of covered OTCs for specific patient groups meeting certain criteria. These medications will also be readily available at private pharmacies.
Tsinontidis highlighted the successful conclusion of the dialogue with pharmacists, paving the way for these changes. “We can now proceed with the necessary procedures to include these two new over-the-counter medications in GHS,” he stated.
While an official timeline for implementation hasn’t been announced yet, the HIO assures that details will be forthcoming soon.
